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

Minister of Defence of Sweden Pål Jonson has pointed out that his country receives valuable feedback from Ukraine about its weapons, which are being tested in real combat conditions. “The way our weapons work in Ukraine, the way we help, has become an inspiring example. I always say that helping Ukraine is both right and wise – in fact, it is an investment in our security. Because right now, Ukraine is a “shield” against russian military expansion, and putin will not stop until he is stopped. Right now, our Ukrainian friends are doing just that,” Jonson added.

Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson has said that Sweden has not set any limits on the amount of aid it will provide to Ukraine and that the country has already donated EUR 10 billion in military equipment.

The government of Germany is considering increasing its support for Ukraine to more than EUR 11.5 billion next year.

“We remain committed and determined to support Ukraine in its fight for a just peace. Germany alone has provided Ukraine with EUR 9 billion in military aid this year. At the same time, we are increasing our civilian contributions: we are helping Ukrainians survive another winter of war by providing additional EUR 40 million. We are helping to keep homes warm and lit, and we are not allowing russia to break the morale of those defending their homeland with its targeted terrorist attacks on civilian gas and heat supplies,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs of the FRG Johann Wadephul.

President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel believes that Ukrainian flags should continue to fly in his country as a symbol of solidarity. “Whether it is material, financial, military, or any other kind of assistance, it would have a direct impact on the loss of life, injuries, and material damage. I am convinced that our assistance must continue, because it is not only solidarity with Ukraine, but also an expression of the values that we, as a democratic country, must uphold,” Pavel emphasized.

On November 13, the European Union will discuss the main ways to attract financial support for Ukraine for 2026-2027.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Anita Anand has said that the agenda for the next meeting of G7 Ministers of Foreign Affairs will include Arctic security, the war in Ukraine, and ensuring peace in the Middle East.

Lithuania will help rehabilitate more than 300 Ukrainian children freed from russian occupation.

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President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel believes that russia’s repeated violations of NATO airspace cannot be tolerated indefinitely but will sooner or later have to be responded to with force.

“...It is unlikely that China will change its policy, but at the meeting we managed to devote about 80 % of the time to discussing the threat from russia. China could quickly end this war (against Ukraine) if it decided to. China is increasingly influencing russia’s policy,” Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Margus Tsahkna  commented on the results of his visit to China.

Xolo, a service popular in Spain and other European countries that specializes in accounting and administrative services for individual entrepreneurs, has begun unilaterally terminating contracts with clients of russian origin.

The Senate of Romania has passed a legislative proposal that makes violations of economic sanctions imposed by the European Union a criminal offense in Romania. The draft law, initiated by the government, provides for up to 12 years’ imprisonment for individuals and huge criminal fines for companies.

The growth of russia’s economy effectively stalled at the beginning of 2024, and since then – for about 20 months – the national GDP has remained at approximately the same level, according to calculations by the institute for economic forecasting of the russian academy of sciences.

The rf’s federal budget in January–October 2025 was executed with a deficit of 4.19 trillion rubles, or 1.9 % of GDP. In January–September, the deficit was 3.787 trillion rubles, or 1.7 % of GDP. Thus, in October, there was a deficit of approximately 400 billion rubles.

Demand for steel pipes in the rf declined by 13% in nine months compared to the same period last year and amounted to 7.3 million tons. The pipe industry development fund expects steel pipe consumption to decrease by 11 % this year to 10 million tons, compared to 11.2 million tons in 2024. The main factors holding back demand in the domestic market are said to be the economic slowdown, high key interest rates that limit investment and development projects, as well as rising costs and significant inflation. In 2026, more than half (52 %) of respondents predict a continued decline in demand.

russia’s authorities have decided to increase fines for dozens of economic crimes, from fraud to tax evasion, 1.5–3 times. The government has begun to review fines and taxes against the background of a budget deficit.

A new tax – the “technology levy” will be introduced in russia in 2026. The levy will be imposed on technology and electronics, which are mainly imported into the russian market. Although the payment will be imposed on electronics manufacturers and importers, in reality, suppliers will simply include it in the cost of goods, and consumers will actually pay it.

76 % of russia’s officials have relatives who are also involved in government or businesses related to the government.

Only 10 out of the 1,012 russian officials who have relatives in government and related businesses have relatives who participated in the war against Ukraine.

Of the 1,611 sentences handed down in russia in political cases in the first half of 2025, 1,076 (67 %) involved imprisonment. In the first half of 2024, 489 of the 893 sentences involved actual prison terms – about 55 %. Not only is the number of sentences with actual terms increasing, but so is the overall number of criminal cases under political articles.

There is no more money for major repairs and construction in Irkutsk region. In 2026, only those facilities for which funds are allocated from the federal budget will be built in the region. Other projects will be frozen or mothballed.

In Ulyanovsk region, the ban on mobile internet access will remain in effect until the end of the war against Ukraine, – said the regional government. Ulyanovsk’s authorities cannot influence this decision, as it is made by the federal center to ensure “national security” and the restrictions will only be lifted by moscow’s decision.

The state duma has passed a law in its third and final reading that requires medical school graduates to work under the supervision of a mentor in municipal and state medical institutions starting March 1, 2026.

In its Global Expression Report for 2025, the human rights organization Article 19 ranked belarus last – 49th – among European and Central Asian countries in terms of freedom of expression. In the global ranking, belarus is only ahead of Nicaragua and North Korea, ranking 159th out of 161. In the press freedom ranking, belarus ranks 166th out of 180.

At least 37 people have been sentenced to compulsory psychiatric treatment in belarus in politically motivated criminal cases.

In belarus, fresh tomatoes have become by 31.86 % more expensive, cucumbers – by 23.61 %, peppers – by 16.19 %, cabbage – by 16.06 %, and vegetables and mushrooms in general – by 14.48 %. Since the beginning of the year, the consumer price index has risen by 6.1 %.