Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

“Together with our European partners, France will continue to support Ukraine in the long term in exercising its legitimate right to self-defense in the face of the aggression it is suffering, and will also support its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity,” said France’s permanent representative to the UN Jérôme Bonnafont.

“We condemn russia’s ongoing attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities and other civilian infrastructure, which are intensifying. These attacks are a mockery of the cause of peace, which is of paramount importance to the world and to President Trump,” said US Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Tammy Bruce, calling russia’s use of the “oreshnik” ballistic missile against Ukraine an “incomprehensible escalation”.

“russia is trying to justify this escalation by claiming that there was an attack on one of president putin;’s residences, but this claim is false. There was no such attack”, said Chargé d'Affaires at the UK Mission to the United Nations James Kariuki, regarding russia’s attempts to justify the use of the “oreshnik” missile.

“When we speak different languages, an interpreter or dictionary often helps. When one side speaks the language of peace and the other speaks the language of missiles, it is impossible to reach an understanding, and no interpreter can help,” said President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda regarding the prospects for EU dialogue with putin.

Following the European Union, Switzerland has added 41 tankers that transported russian oil in circumvention of restrictions to its sanctions list. Five individuals and four organizations have also been sanctioned.

The European Union may prepare a 20th package of sanctions against russia by February 24. Possible restrictions include a ban on servicing russian oil tankers, a ban on the export of luxury goods to russia, and a reduction in EU quotas for the import of russian fertilizers.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Maria Malmer Stenergard has asked EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja  Kallas to include Sweden’s proposals in the EU’s 20th package of sanctions against russia, namely: a complete ban on maritime services for any vessels transporting russian carbon energy carriers from russian ports; strengthening measures against russian fertilizer exports to the EU; and abolishing the value threshold for luxury goods. “Luxury goods should not be exported to russia regardless of their price. We look forward to continuing our close cooperation,” Stenergard emphasized.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen has said that Finland and Sweden are proposing to impose customs duties on all goods and services imported from russia. According to her, the threat from russia will be long-term. “This means that we must maintain pressure, despite a possible truce or peace agreement,” said Valtonen.

Deputy Chief Spokesperson for the European Commission Olof Gill has emphasized that the European Union is focused on implementing the updated trade agreement between Ukraine and the EU.

The Government of Greece has officially decided to extend the temporary protection for Ukrainian asylum seekers for another year, until March 4, 2027.

The price of russian oil for tax calculation purposes fell below $40 per barrel in December 2025, having reached its lowest level since May 2020. In the first eleven months of last year, oil and gas revenues fell by 22.4% year-on-year and will be at their lowest level since 2020 at the end of the year. The rf’s budget for 2026 is based on a forecast average annual oil price of $59 per barrel.

russian metallurgists reduced steel production by 5% in 2025. A rapid recovery in the industry is not expected. The market will continue to be pressured by expensive loans, stagnant domestic demand, and limited export opportunities.

The sharp increase in the recycling fee did not help AvtoVAZ: at the end of 2025, it reduced both its sales and market share. Lada’s result – 329,000 cars – was almost by 25% worse than a year earlier, and its market share fell below 25%. The recycling fee, which AvtoVAZ had lobbied for, eventually did not help.

The volume of advertising in russian print and online media fell by 13% in 2025. Over the year, the segment lost more than 1.2 billion rubles. In 2026, the trend towards reducing advertising budgets in the media will continue.

Almost 80% of russians surveyed are trying to save money on gifts.

Holiday traffic in russian shopping centers was almost by 20% lower than in the same period in 2025.

In 2025, the price per square meter of secondary housing in large cities of russia  increased by 8%.

russia continues to lose ground in the global space market, where it was once a pioneer and leader. At the end of 2025, the state corporation roscosmos carried out 17 space rocket launches. russia lagged behind the United States more than tenfold and behind China – more than fivefold. For the second year in a row, the number of launches in russia has remained at its lowest level since 1961.

The grape harvest in russia in 2025 decreased by 25–30%. The largest losses were in rostov region, where they reached 30–50% of the planned indicators.

Search and rescue services in russia’s regions have faced a shortage of Mi-8 helicopters and An-26 aircraft to assist people in emergencies and disasters. A shortage of aircraft was recorded in 31 of the 111 approved rescue stations. In particular, there is a shortage of helicopters and aircraft in voronezh, kaliningrad, yekaterinburg, novosibirsk, chita, kazan, yuzhno-sakhalinsk, komsomolsk-on-amur, rostov-on-don, nizhny novgorod, abakan, and other cities.

In all regions of russia, except for moscow and moscow region, the hiring of migrant workers will be restricted. Foreigners and stateless persons will only be able to be hired through an organized recruitment process under the control of the ministry of internal affairs.

Residents of belgorod region who are left without electricity and heating should move to other regions. This recommendation was made by governor gladkov. He declared the energy situation in the region to be “practically catastrophic”. According to gladkov, the authorities have concluded that “it is impossible to restore electricity supply to residential buildings and industrial enterprises solely through reserve generation”. Moreover, he warned of the threat of a complete blackout in the region, which is home to about 1.5 million people.

A full-blown budget crisis is engulfing khakassia, one of siberia’s poorest regions, which last year faced a sharp drop in tax revenues from the coal industry and ended up with a budget deficit of around 5 billion rubles. Due to a lack of money in the local treasury, employees of budgetary organizations in the region – the forensic medical examination bureau, psychiatric hospital, blood center, medical information and analysis center, 112 emergency service, philharmonic hall, and one of the colleges in Abakan – were left without salaries. At the end of December, the accounts of nearly three dozen schools and kindergartens were frozen due to debts, leaving them unable to pay for food, utilities, and fuel.

russians cannot blame God for the continuation of the war against Ukraine while in russia “more people are killed in peacetime” due to abortions. This was stated during an anti-abortion sermon by bishop ignatius, head of the yenisei diocese of the russian orthodox church in the krasnoyarsk territory.

The USA’s lifting of sanctions on belarusian potash and belavia is fading into the background in light of the Americans imposing a 25% tariff on all belarusian goods. belarus falls under this restriction because it trades with Iran. belarus is among the first “beneficiaries” of US restrictive measures because it actively cooperates with Iran, including trade relations under the free trade agreement between the EAEU and that country.

belarus’ economy may grow by 2.1% in 2026. Prices will increase by 5.1%. This forecast was made by experts from the United Nations.

Inflation in belarus in 2025 was 6.8% – data for December compared to the same month in 2024. Food prices rose the most during that period – by 9%. The authorities had previously forecast inflation at up to 5%.

Minister of information of the rb marat markov does not consider it appropriate to set the share of belarusian-language content on television at 45% or any other share at all. He stated that the russian language should  not be “oppressed”.

The ministry of education of the rb has approved a new unified procedure for selecting citizens for study and internships abroad under international agreements. To participate in the selection process, applicants must submit an application form, a character reference with an assessment of moral qualities, and a written commitment to return to belarus after completing their studies or internship.

Over the course of 10 months, russian margarine exports amounted to $350 million, 11% of which went to belarus. belarus ranked fourth among the main buyers of this russian product.

“beltelecom” has announced an increase in tariffs for telegraph services from January 19. The changes will affect both private customers and legal entities. In particular, sending telegrams within the country will become significantly more expensive for the population: the cost of one word will increase by 27.3%, receiving telegrams of all categories will become by 29.1% more expensive, and the fee for receiving telegrams by telephone will increase by 31.1%.