March 3, 2025 Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

Lithuania is investing EUR 20 million in the development of the Ukrainian defense industry and has initiated the creation of joint production facilities for weapons production.

The Czech volunteer initiative Darek pro putina (“Gift for putin”) has fundraised more than 70 million Czech crowns to buy a Black Hawk helicopter for Ukraine.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has assured that he and the leaders of Ukraine and France have agreed to prepare a plan to “cease hostilities” that will  be presented to the United States. He has also assured that his country will continue to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes” and that Great Britain is firmly and resolutely committed to achieving a sustainable peace for Ukraine.

Ukraine and the United Kingdom have signed a $3 billion loan agreement for Ukraine's defense needs. The first tranche of the loan is to be received by Ukraine next week.

 President of Czechia Petr Pavel believes that a “broad coalition” of states should be created to support a just peace in Ukraine.

“...In the russian-Ukrainian war, Poland is on the side of Ukraine. Without any “buts,” said  Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk. “It’s a paradox, listen to how it sounds: 500 million Europeans ask 300 million Americans to protect them from 140 million russians. If you can count, then count on yourself!” Tusk said about the situation around strengthening the country’s and Europe’s defense capabilities.

“Do your job, for yourself, and don't let go of your values. Support Ukraine. Be mediators. Build connections. Raise awareness,” said Speaker of the Polish Sejm Szymon Hołownia  in support of Ukraine.

“The obvious task of the United States is to be on the side of Ukrainians, I have no doubt about that. Distancing from Ukraine is not in the interests of the United States. What the United States has done over the past three years is fully in line with its diplomatic and military tradition. I want the Americans to understand that disengaging from Ukraine is not in their interest,” said President of  France Emmanuel Macron.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte believes that a sustainable peace in Ukraine requires joint work of the United States, Ukraine and Europe.

Ambassador of the EU to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová assumes that cooperation between Ukraine and the EU on minerals will continue without any major changes amid the events surrounding the “minerals deal” with the United States.

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 Commander of Field Army of Bundeswehr  Harald Gante has said that the military activities of russia and belarus are closely monitored and analyzed. Gante has called further strengthening of deterrence important for the security of Europe.

In February, shipments of russian uranium from the ports of Primorsk, Ust-Luga and Novorossiysk to Türkiye fell to 0.42 million tons from 1.56 million tons a month earlier. Türkiye has decreased 4 times  its oil imports from russia after the US toughened sanctions, which targeted gazprom neft, surgutneftegaz and more than 180 shadow fleet tankers.

Kazakhstan shows its teeth to russia: President Tokayev took part in the launch of a transport and logistics terminal in Xi'an. The trans-Caspian transportation route is to link China, Central Asia and Europe, bypassing russia. Kazakhstan is not only involved in the construction of transportation routes that will bypass russia, the country is also negotiating with Azerbaijan on a new oil pipeline, which is also to be laid to bypass the rf.

Another dive in russia: An airplane of the airlines “utair” flying from Krasnoyarsk to Ufa suffered an equipment failure.

In Ulyanovsk, the price for a  square meter of new buildings rose by 2.1 % to RUB 115,264 in February; the average price of an apartment increased by 1.8 % to RUB 5,435,792. As of March 1, the city also raised public transportation fares.

The governor  of Samara has reduced the one-time payment for signing a contract with the russian armed forces from a record-breaking RUB 3.6 million to RUB 2.1 million.

Factories in Rostov region owned by a russian clothing manufacturer are being sold to “bulava”, a company affiliated with the “Kalashnikov” concern.

Prosecutors in the rf are filing lawsuits against schools that have not purchased expensive equipment for the new subject “basics of security and defense of the fatherland”. The subject began to be taught in russian schools this school year instead of “basics of life safety.” In the classroom, students in forms 8-11 are supposed to study “the history of the creation  and development of the russian armed forces, the main types of weapons and military equipment, and the provisions of the military regulations”.

In  Magadan region, a participant in the war in Ukraine killed his mother on Defender of the Fatherland Day.

Like in the ussr: the supreme court of the rf has ruled that any interference with the property of apartment buildings, including changes to the appearance of the facade, requires the unanimous approval of all owners of residential premises without exception. Citizens who have unauthorizedly glassed their balconies should expect court decisions requiring the forced dismantling of the structure and the return of the balcony to its original appearance. Besides, the court will impose a fine for each day of delay in the execution of the decision and will also oblige the offender to compensate for legal costs.

Over the year, the microloan approval rate in russia decreased by 4 %: while in January 2024 it was 27 %, in February 2025 it dropped to 23 %.

In the Krasnoyarsk Territory, a woman suffocated and died while participating in a contest to eat pancakes the fastest during Shrovetide.

A resident of  Moscow region sold her newborn child for 10 thousand rubles and boots,  while the obstetrician received 150 thousand.

russians are dissatisfied with their vacation in Adler: untrained staff, price chaos and environmental problems. Tourists are complaining en masse about muddy water with algae and an unpleasant odor, which is in stark contrast to the promises of crystal clear water depicted in promotional materials. Many service workers lack basic training, while  the lack of clear pricing standards leads to deception of guests. Unlike in Türkiye or Georgia, where such violations are punishable by serious measures, such cases go unpunished here.

As of the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, almost 70% of belarusian families' expenditures were consumer expenditures. The average family spends 36.9 % of these expenses on food, 37.7 %  – on non-food items, and 23 % – on services.

The belarusian “alfa bank” has announced that it will charge 20 rubles for any erroneous money transfer by citizens.

In 25 years, there will be 6 pensioners for every 10 working belarusians. The demographic crisis in belarus is exacerbated by the increasing labor emigration and the  declining birth rate, which leads to the  reduction in the number of people contributing to the pension fund.

The state committee for property of belarus has updated the bulletin of geographical objects that have ceased to exist. In 2024, 11 settlements were recognized as such in belarus, all of them located in  Vitebsk region. However, the actual number of disappeared villages may be much higher. Since 2020, 87 settlements have disappeared in belarus, more than half of them – 47 – in  Vitebsk region.

This spring, passengers of city taxis in Bobruisk were hit with new prices. On March 1, the fare increased by 30 kopecks, and now one trip costs 1 ruble 80 kopecks. The price revision came as a surprise not only to passengers but also to drivers: “Now we will lose 30-40 % of passengers.”

belarusian fourth-formers are now being taught how to fly drones at school: “We shoot at targets, the other day we disassembled a Kalashnikov rifle and learned to march.”

Executive committees of some districts of belarus have officially adopted and published a decision to hold sobriety days in 2025. On these days, it will be possible to buy alcohol either in public cafes and restaurants on tap or in shops, but only for wedding celebrations and funeral receptions.