February 23, 2025 Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

“A long and intense day with the senior leadership of Ukraine. Extensive and positive discussions with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the embattled and courageous leader of a nation at war, and his talented national security team,” US Special Envoy for Ukraine and russia Keith Kellogg said about his visit to Ukraine. Kellogg also assured that the United States supports Ukraine.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Radosław Sikorski brought an iranian shahed shot down in Ukraine to the Conservative Political Action Conference in the United States. “This year, attendees can see a symbol of the deaths of thousands of innocent people which was shot down by the Ukrainians and handed over by Poland: an iranian shahed drone. Together, we are effectively resisting the axis of evil,” Sikorski wrote.

On the third anniversary of russia's full-scale invasion, the United Kingdom is preparing to announce new measures to support Ukraine and bring the aggressor to justice.

The EU is working on a new package of military aid to Ukraine worth EUR 20 billion. The package will include supplies of artillery ammunition, air defense systems, precision missiles, UAVs, and other weapons to strengthen Ukrainian military brigades.

On February 24, EU Chief Diplomat Kaja Kallas will announce a proposal for a major package of military support for Ukraine, including ammunition and air defense systems.

On February 24, France and Estonia are organizing an online meeting of Ministers of Defence from about ten European countries to discuss strengthening support for Ukraine. The United Kingdom, Italy, Germany and Poland, as well as representatives of the EU and NATO will take part in the event.

Ambassador of the EU to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová believes that the formation of a coalition of countries willing to send their troops to Ukraine as a peacekeeping force is an important step towards providing our country with real security guarantees. The Ambassador has also assured that the EU will provide Ukraine with enhanced military and other assistance and strong security guarantees through 2025.

Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez has emphasized that “peace in Ukraine and the security of Europe cannot be imposed, they must be agreed upon with Ukrainians and Europeans.” “Submission to the aggressor will not bring peace, but future and more serious aggressions. So let's work for a just and lasting peace. This is the position of the Spanish government, which I will support on Monday in Kyiv,” Sanchez emphasized.

The G20 Ministers of Foreign Affairs have agreed to work to establish a just peace in Ukraine and other regions of the world where armed conflicts are ongoing.

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The EU may start discussing the 17th package of sanctions against russia next week.

NATO is planning to build a pipeline system from Germany to Poland and the Czech Republic to ensure a rapid supply of jet fuel for fighter jets in case of a war with the rf.

German authorities have detained an 18-year-old russian citizen on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack against the Israeli Embassy in Berlin.

In Tyumen region, sugar prices have risen by more than 40 % in a year and a half. The increase in the cost of sugar is influenced by the cost of transportation and fuel. Besides, some of the inputs used in sugar production, including seeds, spare parts for agricultural machinery and equipment, are imported, which means that due to international sanctions they are constantly rising in price in proportion to the fall in the ruble's exchange rate against world currencies.

From January 1, 2025, the duty on imports of beer from unfriendly countries to the rf increased tenfold, which will lead to a further decline in imports and the replacement of these products mainly by russian ones. In previous years, Germany accounted for about 30 % of all beer imports to the rf, but due to rising customs duties and weakening of the ruble, imports will be replaced with cheap russian beers.

Last year, millions of acres under rye crops and the rye harvest in the rf declined again, having reached a historic low. In 1990, more than 8 million hectares were planted to the crop, from which 16.4 tons were harvested, while last year 631,000 hectares were planted to rye with a total harvest of 1.16 tons.

By the end of this year, russian businesses will lay off 15-20 % of their IT personnel, primarily to cut costs to stabilize their financial position. Optimization of the structure remains second most important.

At the end of 2024, the natural decline in the rf’s population, i.e. the difference between the number of deaths and births, amounted to 596.2 thousand people. The number of newborns in 2024 continued to decline and reached 1.222 million, which is by 3.4 % fewer than in 2023 (1.265 million). In 2024, 1.82 million people died in russia, which is by 3.3 % more than in 2023, and the mortality rate increased to 12.5 deaths per 1 thousand people. Thus, the natural population decline has continued for the ninth year in a row, and the cumulative result for the period from 2016 to 2024 exceeded 4 million people. Since 2000, the population of russia has decreased by more than 11 million people due to the excess of mortality over births.

russian z-patriots are outraged that authorities all over russia have begun removing flags from the graves of the military. The reason is obvious: officials are trying to hide the real scale of losses of the armed forces of the rf in the war against Ukraine.

Metropolitan of Simferopol and Crimea of the roc tikhon shevkunov, considered to be the confessor of russian dictator putin, has made territorial claims to NATO member Turkey, saying that “Constantinople will return to its home harbor, just like Crimea did.”

In 2025, the demand for insurance against terrorist attacks and sabotage increased in russia.

On February 21, the ministry of internal affairs of the rb recognized the “Free Belarus” initiative as an “extremist formation”.

“belarusbank” has raised the cost of housing loans. This is the second significant increase in lending rates, including preferential programs. Commercial rates have risen to 17 % and 17.5 %, while interest on preferential loans has been raised from 12.5 % to 15 %. Due to the rise in loan prices, demand will decline and there will be fewer buyers. Besides, the rise in loan prices significantly increases the total repayments – by at least 25 % of the loan amount.

According to the database of the main military medical directorate of the ministry of defence of the rf, at least 800 wounded russian soldiers were treated in belarusian civilian hospitals in March 2022.