February 17, 2025 Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel has said that 1.6 million rounds of large-caliber ammunition have been delivered to Ukraine as part of the Czech initiative to supply Ukraine, and that the supply will continue.

“Our assistance to Ukraine will continue as long as it takes. We have already agreed on the next three years. So, this year plus two more, so it's fixed. And if it is necessary to continue, we are ready to continue, it is quite clear from our side,” assured Minister of Defence of Estonia Hanno Pevkur.

President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs has once again emphasized that negotiations cannot be held without Ukraine's participation, expecting the agreed terms to be accepted, and the same applies to Europe.

“There are two red lines on which there can be no discussion – Ukraine's membership in the EU and NATO,” said President of Finland Alexander Stubb. He also believes that Europe needs a special envoy for Ukraine to ensure that Europeans play an important role in any peace process.

Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenković believes that Ukraine has a chance to return the temporarily occupied territories, as his country once did, if it is strong and has good negotiating positions. “There are examples of peaceful reintegration of the occupied territories on the European continent. And I have long said that in terms of methodology and format, what we have lacked in the issue of Ukraine in recent years is one personality who is respected by everyone, who will be reckoned with in moscow, in Kyiv and who has support in Washington, European capitals and among the countries of the global South,” he said.

Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo has suggested holding an urgent meeting of the European Council to develop a common position on Europe's place in potential peace talks on russia's war against Ukraine.

“What does winning look like? I think you have to ask yourselves this question. That's a Ukrainian question because you are fighting for your survival,” said Keith Kellogg, the US President's Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia.

Ukraine and Germany have signed an agreement on the opening of advice centres for Ukrainian refugees. According to the German Ministry of Internal Affairs, the so-called “unity hubs” are intended to support Ukrainians, particularly in finding work in both Germany and Ukraine, and to help those who want to return to their homeland.

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New sanctions against russia will depend on moscow's readiness to hold “good faith” peace talks with Ukraine, the G7 said. “Any new, additional sanctions after February (2025) should be connected to whether the Russian Federation makes real, good faith efforts to end its war against Ukraine, which will ensure Ukraine's long-term security and stability as a sovereign, independent state,” the G7 Foreign Ministers said in a joint statement.

At the Munich Security Conference, US President’s Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg emphasized that russia must make territorial concessions. “putin has to give up Ukrainian territories to make a deal, and not just territories: perhaps reduce the army and not create an alliance with China, north korea and iran,” said Trump's Special Envoy.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Radosław Sikorski has stated that ruler of the rf putin is waging a colonial war in Ukraine. And to persuade the dictator to stop it, he should be shown that “the price he will have to pay will be unacceptable.” “the russian economy is getting exhausred. If we manage to persuade him that we will not return to the relations we had before, and we can do this longer than he can, then he will make a deal,” said Sikorski.

Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni has supported President of Italy Sergio Mattarella, who compared modern russia to Nazi Germany. “That was a project of the Third Reich in Europe. The current russia’s aggression against Ukraine is of the same nature,” he said.

In January 2025, grape prices in russia increased by 10.4 %. This was the most noticeable jump among fruits. Cucumbers (+7.7 %), mushrooms (+7.2 %), garlic (+6.2 %), onions (+4.4 %) and apples (+4.3 %) also rose in price. Dairy prices also rose in January. Cream went up by 2.1 %, cheeses – by 1.9 %, milk – by 1.5 %, sour cream and fermented milk products – by 1.4 %, and cottage cheese, condensed milk, and processed cheese – by up to 1.2 %. The price increase also affected fish products: salted herring went up by 3.5 %, frozen fish – by 2.5 %, and smoked and pickled fish – by 2 %. Canned food in tomato sauce and oil also rose in price (by 1.5 % and 1.2 %, respectively). Meat prices also went up: beef – by 1.7 %, turkey – by 1.5 %, minced meat – by 1.1 %, chicken – by 0.7 %, pork – by 0.6 %. The rise in prices is attributed to rising producer costs and changes in market demand. Prices are expected to continue to rise in the coming months.

The center for macroeconomic analysis and short-term forecasting, which has been under the control of the ministry of economic development of the rf since 2017 and is officially responsible for forecasting the country's bright future, has criticized the inflation data from rosstat. The center has reported that the inflation rate of 9.52 % in 2024 from rosstat is “probably underestimated” from 9.9 %. And on January 24, it explained the sharp jump in inflation in January by its manipulative “slowdown” in December 2024. Thanks to this fraud, on February 7, prime minister of the rf mishustin reported to putin and russians that the rf's GDP grew by 4.1 % in 2024, higher than the government's forecast. But this happened at the expense of the same December, in which inflation slowed down abnormally and the economy grew, according to the prime minister, by 4.5 %.

From January 1, tariffs for major repairs in apartment buildings in russia increased. Tariffs are set by regional authorities based on recommendations from the ministry of construction of the rf, taking into account the estimated cost of repairing common property in buildings. The increase in tariffs is due to the rise in the cost of construction materials and high inflation observed in recent years.

yevgeny barsov, an entrepreneur and member of the Surgut city duma, who owns ten sports planes and 29 apartments, several land plots and an annual income of 33.5 million rubles, has suggested that russian pensioners should earn extra money at a car wash. According to him, one can earn 100,000 rubles a month at a car wash if one “works like a dog”.

Since the beginning of February, more than 20,000 residents of Novgorod region have been without electricity. A high alert was declared in the region, and member of the Veliky Novgorod duma anna cherepanova has called on the governor to declare a state of emergency in the region.

Due to the war against Ukraine and the anti-immigration policy of russian authorities, the number of immigrants to russia continues to decline. In 2024, 28,374 people arrived in the country under the voluntary resettlement program, which is almost half as many as in 2021, the lowest figure in the last four years. Potential migrants are scared off by possible military obligations, bureaucratic difficulties with paperwork, and problems with integration, such as health insurance, pensions, and children's education.

In January-December 2024, Beijing paid almost $844 million for the import of belarusian potash, which is significantly less than a year earlier, when the cost of potash supplies was estimated at more than $1.3 billion.

In January 2025, the belarusian-Chinese manufacturer belgee sold 1,816 new passenger cars on the russian market, which is by 15.8 % fewer than a month earlier (2,158).

The head of the labor organization and wages department of the mozyr oil refinery has admitted that “due to the unprofitable operation of the enterprise and, as a result, the lack of opportunities to increase the tariff rate of the first category, the increase in wages for employees was 6.25 %, while the director of the plant announced a 10 % increase. The head of the plant's trade union also said that from February 6 to March 31, some clauses of the collective bargaining agreement would be “on hold”.

belarusian railways have been short of workers for several years now. At the moment, the railways need: 77 railway station attendants, 356 passenger car conductors, 30 diesel train drivers and 30 diesel diver assistants, train formers, etc. This situation has arisen due to the dismissal of people for political reasons, as well as staff optimization.

For five months in a row, belarus has not been a leader in the EAEU in any of the main indicators.

The housing and utilities department of Grodno region has recognized a Volkovisk swimming pool with mold and a leaking roof as compliant with the standards.

russians who cannot afford expensive vacations due to sanctions and travel to the rb, have shared their impressions of the country. Due to the weakening of the ruble, prices in Minsk for food, restaurants and clothing are at the same level as in moscow or even slightly higher: “many russians want to leave for socialism, which they believe is in belarus. However, prices for everything in belarus are the same as in russia. So how is belarusian socialism different from russian capitalism?” russians were also impressed by the empty cities, as if they had died out: “There are people, but there are so few of them, as if I had come not to the capital but to a small village. Both on weekdays and weekends. The same is true for the city's roads. Even here in Belgorod, with the constant strikes and missile threats, the roads are always busy. In Minsk, you can go out to the center of the motorway and you won't be hit by a car”.