February 18, 2025 Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer has said he is ready to send British troops to Ukraine to ensure the implementation of peace agreements.

Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson has said that sending Swedish troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force is “absolutely possible”.

Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz has called for a strong and united position of Europe. “We need it because of Ukraine, we need it for our own security,” Scholz emphasized.

US President Donald Trump has said he is ready to allow Europe to buy US-made weapons to be transferred to Ukraine.

“Ukraine should be involved (in the negotiations) because it was the one that was invaded, and the Europeans should be involved because they also have sanctions against putin and russia, and they also contributed to this effort. We're just not there (in the negotiations) yet,” said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

US President's Special Envoy for Ukraine and russia Keith Kellogg has said that the participation of European countries in negotiations to end the russian-Ukrainian war will be crucial.

On the occasion of the third anniversary of the beginning of russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine, a panel of European commissioners will visit Ukraine next week.

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Permanent representatives of the EU member states plan to agree on the 16th package of anti-russian restrictions and new sanctions against belarus at a meeting on February 19.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Noël Barrot has categorically rejected the possibility of russia’s return to the G7. According to him, it is “unthinkable” that russia would return to the G7. “Today it is unimaginable. The G7 is a group of the most developed democracies. Does russia want to appear as a developed democracy? No. That is why it is unacceptable today,” said Barrot.

Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces Karel Řehka has said that even after the possible end of hostilities in Ukraine, russia will not become “more friendly” and therefore the Army's potential needs to be increased.

Minister of Defence of Lithuania Dovilė Šakalienė has said that Europe should be prepared for a potential war, as russian dictator putin “will not change.”

Finland plans to complete the fence on the eastern border with several months earlier.

The ministry of finance of the rf has admitted the possibility of adjusting taxes in response to external challenges facing russia, despite the authorities’ promise to ensure stable fiscal conditions until 2030.

Insurance companies in the rf have significantly increased tariffs for warehouse insurance in 2025 – to 40%. This is how insurers seek to compensate for increased losses and the refusal to insure a number of facilities.

For the first time in two years, electronics imports to russia have decreased. The decline was up to 3%. At this, in the past, imports declined only in 2014 and 2022. The main reasons are difficulties in making payments to China and a high key rate. In 2025, the decline in imports will continue: in household appliances alone, it may reach 30%.

By mid-February, russia had shipped 39.8 million tons of grain for export, which is 2.2 times less than on the same date in 2024.

In moscow, for the first time since the beginning of 2025, the growth of retail prices for petrol and diesel fuel accelerated to a noticeable pace. Within a week, the cost of a liter of AI-92, AI-95 and diesel fuel increased by 19 kopecks. As of February 17, the weighted average price of AI-92 petrol in the capital of the rf was 56.59 rubles a liter, of AI-95 – 62.58 rubles a liter, and of diesel fuel – 69.66 rubles a liter. The catalyst for the price increase was the rise in the price of fuel at “rosneft” and “lukoil” filling stations: both companies raised the price of each type by 30 kopecks per liter. Also, the price of a liter of AI-92 at “neftmagistral” filling stations went up by 4 kopecks.

The kremlin-controlled russian media have begun to promote the narrative that only political migrants are against ending the war in Ukraine.

After the storm, new fuel oil emissions have been detected on 11 beach areas of the Black Sea coast.

In russian-occupied Mariupol, occupying authorities have opened a museum of andrei zhdanov, an active participant in stalin's repressions. During the years of the great terror, he personally signed execution lists; there are 176 such signatures of his.

In 2024, investigators sent 429 criminal cases of terrorist crimes to russian courts, which is by 40% more than in 2023.

A court in Kazan has sentenced local businessman ruslan bayazitov to five years in prison under the article on spreading hatred and enmity. The reason for the criminal case was bayazitov's harsh remarks about supporters of the war in Ukraine, made in a private conversation.

In January, core inflation, which is calculated without taking into account seasonality, accelerated in the rb. Last month it was at 5.7% per annum. For comparison, in December and November last year, core inflation was at 5.5%. That is, if we remove the adjustment for seasonal price changes (for example, for some fruits and vegetables), core inflation is accelerating.

As of November 2024, the average salary in the rb amounted to 2,332 rubles. The median, which divides the entire population into two halves, i.e., is exactly in the middle of the sample, was much lower and amounted to 1,792 rubles. In November, more than 1.5 million people out of all 2.3 million employees in belarus received a salary lower than the average. In particular, 32.2 thousand people received a salary of less than 500 rubles.

In belarus, 50 specialties will be closed at universities from the beginning of the new academic year, but training in military-patriotic education will be introduced.

“Odious Baltic politicians and their Western curators” – lukashenko, in his traditional manner, combined insults and offers of cooperation in his congratulations to the people of Lithuania on the national holiday, the Day of the Restoration of the State.

On February 17, lukashenko invited representatives of large belarusian businesses to his residence to deliver his message in person. Firstly, there is no such thing as a private business in belarus. Secondly, entrepreneurs should honestly share their profits with the state and stop transferring dividends abroad. Thirdly, business should stay out of politics.