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

Western partners will allocate more than EUR 600 million to support Ukraine’s energy sector.

France will provide EUR 71 million in grant support to Ukraine, part of which will be directed to Ukraine’s energy sector.

The government of the Netherlands has allocated additional EUR 2 million in aid for identification and return of Ukrainian children abducted by russia.

Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria Beate Meinl-Reisinger has expressed her full support for Ukraine’s European integration aspirations. “Ukrainians are defending not only their country, but also our European security and our European freedom. If we do not act now, the war could spread further. Therefore, it is necessary to increase pressure on russia now so that its willingness to negotiate finally increases. We are doing this,” the Minister also stressed.

European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius has called on the governments of EU member states, in particular Spain, to meet Ukraine’s urgent need for missiles by providing more weapons from their stocks. “Spain has shown strong support for Ukraine throughout the war. I welcome the serious military commitment of the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces of Spain to support Ukraine with priority defense equipment, including air defense systems,” the European Commissioner said.

“Any plan to end russian aggression in Ukraine will require support from us, the European Union, in order for it to work,” said European Commission Spokesperson Anouar El Anouni.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Baiba Braže believes that russia is dragging out peace talks and lacks the political will to end the war. “That is why the format of negotiations on the russian side has stalled. These are dishonest negotiations,” said the head of Latvia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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US President Donald Trump has officially extended sanctions against russia for its aggression against Ukraine, imposed by US presidential decrees in 2014, 2018, and 2022, for another year.

Chancellor of the FRG Friedrich Merz has said that he considers the restoration of full-fledged relations with putin to be practically unrealistic.

New Zealand has expanded its sanctions to include a number of russian military-industrial complex companies, the Garantex cryptocurrency exchange and its management, Iranian drone manufacturer Qods Aviation Industries and its executives, and two North Korean companies, Sobaeksu United Corp and Korea Ryonbong General Corporation. More than ten employees of the general staff of the armed forces of the rf have been added to the list. Another sanction measure is lowering the price cap on russian oil to $44.1 per barrel. Sanctions have also been imposed on 100 ships of the so-called shadow fleet. The belarusian company “alevkurp”, which is part of the state committee for military industry of the rb, has also been included in the sanctions list.

South Korea has reduced its purchases of LNG from russia to a 10-year low.

Representatives of the Estonian Paralympic Committee and the Ministry of Culture will not participate in the official ceremonies of the Winter Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina because they condemn the admission of athletes from the aggressor countries – russia and belarus – to participate in the Games under their national flags and symbols.

The government of the rf plans to speed up the collection of housing and utility debts from russians after raising tariffs by 30%. In November 2025, the minister of construction and housing and utilities estimated the russians’ total overdue debt for utility services at 415 billion rubles.

The russian union of industrialists and entrepreneurs points out a reduction in investment in companies, an increase in non-payments and accounts receivable.

russian raw milk producers have faced warehouse overstocking amid russians’ shift to austerity measures. By the end of 2025, agricultural organizations were unable to sell 73.5 thousand tons of products, or about 73.5 bags of one liter capacity of milk.

As of February 15, the wholesale price of C1 eggs per ten increased by 83.3% over the month and by 89.7% over the year.

Over the past year, russian IT specialists faced not only a halt in salary growth, but also the need to look for a job amid staff cuts. Last year, 22% of IT professionals faced layoffs, and more than a quarter (26%) fear that this will happen to them in the near future. At the moment, one in five IT specialists is unemployed, and another part is only involved in irregular projects.

The construction of the krasnoyarsk metro (underground railway – Transl.) has been postponed until 2028. The official reason is a lack of funds. The krasnoyarsk metro is one of russia’s major long-term construction projects. Construction began in the 1990s.

Drivers in tyumen have begun receiving fines for unpaid parking. The fines can’t be paid due to the lack of internet access, and there are no alternative options. The city administration has confirmed that users are required to pay for parking in any case.

The sanctions policy of Lithuania and the EU towards belarus will not change in the coming year. This was stated by President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda. “If anyone has the illusion that the sanctions will soon be lifted, I must immediately reassure such people that the sanctions regime against belarus, both individual and sectoral, will be extended for another 12 months. This should be done next week,” he said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Kęstutis Budrys has said that some measures against belarus will be expanded in the 20th package of EU sanctions against russia. He has added that the issue of the possibility of resuming the transit of belarusian potash fertilizers through Lithuania will then be removed from the agenda.

lukashenko refused to fly to the USA for a Peace Council meeting due to matters that “cannot be postponed”. Instead, he held a meeting with President of the Senate of Zimbabwe Mabel Memory Chinomona.

Minister of Foreign Affairs maksim ryzhenkov could not represent belarus in Washington at the first meeting of the Peace Council because he was denied a visa.