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

Ambassadors of the European Union member states have agreed on mechanisms for providing Ukraine with a EUR 90 billion loan in 2026–2027, including allowing third countries to participate in the process.

President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola has announced that the European Parliament will hold an extraordinary session on February 24 to honor the courage of the Ukrainian people in confronting russia’s aggression.

Sweden has announced a EUR 94 million energy aid package for Ukraine. According to Swedish government officials, the aid will be directed to Ukraine’s most urgent needs in electricity generation and restoration of the destroyed infrastructure.

International partners have provided Ukraine with energy equipment for backup power with a total capacity of over 145 MW. In particular, our country received 447 generators with a capacity of over 7 MW from the EU; 78 boilers with a capacity of 112 MW from Italy; 2 cogeneration units with a capacity of 3.8 MW from Germany; 379 generators with a capacity of 4.5 MW from Poland; 30 generators with a total capacity of 3.4 MW from France; 106 generators from UNICEF with a capacity of 15.1 MW. Equipment from Azerbaijan, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovakia, France, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, and Japan is on its way.

Spain is sending a batch of powerful generators to Ukraine. “In light of this dramatic situation, we reiterate that Spain will continue to support the people and government of Ukraine. Today, we came to Arganda del Rey to deliver six generators that will be able to provide energy to more than 14,000 people,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain José Manuel Albares.

Kyiv has received 177 generators from the European Union.

In 2025, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development provided Ukraine with EUR 2.9 billion in financing. “Energy security accounted for more than EUR 1.2 billion of EBRD financing to Ukraine in 2025. And for the second year in a row, more than 90% of projects and 57% of its investments were directed to the private sector,” the Bank said in a statement.

US Representative Don Bacon, a Republican, has called for strengthening Ukraine’s air defense and providing it with long-range weapons amid massive attacks by the rf.

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“Perhaps in 2026, we will reach a point where all this becomes unsustainable, because a significant part of the russian economy has been so distorted by the development of the military economy at the expense of the civilian one. I think that defying the laws of economic gravity can only last for so long,” said EU Sanctions Envoy David O’Sullivan.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Margus Tsahkna has said that it will be a mistake to engage in dialogue and restore relations with russia if it does not give up its imperialist policy. He expressed confidence that instead of dialogue with russia, the only correct course of action is to continue resolutely supporting Ukraine and increasing pressure on the rf.

Denmark has tightened controls on tankers carrying russian oil as they pass through Danish straits and are serviced in the roadstead. The Danish straits are the main sea route connecting the Baltic Sea with the World Ocean. russia uses them to export oil from the ports of ust-luga and primorsk.

“Sport does not exist in a vacuum. It reflects who we are and what we have decided to fight for. Allowing aggressors to return to world football as if nothing had happened means ignoring the real security risks and the deep pain caused by the war,” – European Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef has said he strongly opposes FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s initiative to lift the ban on russia’s participation in international football tournaments.

“The Olympic Games must uphold their values and deprive aggressors of any opportunity to cover up their crimes with international sport,” – Estonia has criticized the russian athletes’ participation in the 2026 Olympic Games under neutral status.

russian companies are being pushed out of Venezuela “in the wake of events” in the country, said minister of foreign affairs of the rf sergei lavrov.

The government of the rf is preparing for a threefold increase in the state budget deficit this year due to a reduction in revenues from energy carriers. In January this year, budget revenues from energy carriers halved.

The government of the rf is considering suspending funding for all state projects that were planned to be paid for by the national wealth fund. The initiative comes from the ministry of finance and is linked to the collapse of oil and gas revenues.

In February, the ministry of finance of the rf expects a 209.4 billion rubles shortfall in revenues from energy sales, which the ministry will compensate for by increasing sales of currency and gold from the national wealth fund to almost 227 billion rubles from 192 billion rubles in January.

Maritime exports of petroleum products from the rf from 2021 to 2025 decreased by 18.8%, while the country’s share in the world market fell to 10%.

Transportation of light petroleum products from russian ports rose in price by 24–33% compared to the previous week.

During the week from January 27 to February 2, consumer prices in russia rose by 0.20% after 0.19% last week. Vegetables and fruits rose in price by 2.1%. Prices for cucumbers rose by 6.3%, for carrots – by 1.8%, and for white cabbage – by 1.5%. Beetroot and potatoes rose in price by 1.3%.

Overdue wage arrears in russia at the end of December 2025 amounted to 2 billion 27.2 million rubles. Compared to November, the figure increased by 256.8 million rubles, or by 14.5%.

moscow credit bank was the first of russia’s top 10 largest banks to become unprofitable. The bank, which ranks 7th in russia in terms of assets and has about 700 billion rubles in deposits from individuals, saw a net loss of 9 billion rubles. The main losses occurred in December – 8.2 billion rubles. mkb’s problems arose in the middle of the year: in January–September, the volume of overdue loans on the bank’s balance sheet soared by 700%, reaching 668 billion rubles, or 28% of the portfolio.

The largest developer, “samolet”, appealed to the federal authorities for a preferential loan to cover part of the company’s debt in exchange for blocking stakes from shareholders. The amount requested is approximately 48-50 billion rubles. Last year, the developer’s adjusted net debt amounted to more than 350 billion rubles.

By the results of January 2026, russian airlines will not receive a tax deduction from the state for jet fuel, which partially compensates for fuel costs.

The aircraft of russia’s largest charter airline, Azur Air, have suffered three cases of engine failures within a month.

Cement consumption in russia in January may decline by 20-30% year-on-year. Shipments were the lowest in more than 15 years.

There are nearly 70,000 lifts in russia which have reached the end of their service life, but their use has been extended until 2030.

russia’s largest marketplace, Ozon, has increased its commission on book sales to 42%.

In 2025, the car fleet of the russian car-sharing service “delimobil” shrank by 12% year-on-year.

The number of political prisoners in russia rose to 1,217 by the end of the year, including 108 women. The russian authorities actively use articles that prosecute the expression of personal opinions, in particular about discrediting the army, spreading so-called fakes about it, confidential cooperation with foreigners, and participation in undesirable or extremist organizations.

In 2025, 215 individuals, mainly natural persons, were recognized as so-called “foreign agents”, and 78 organizations were declared undesirable in the rf. New restrictions were also introduced on “foreign agents”, including a ban on receiving income from intellectual activity and investments.

russian regions facing a sharp increase in budget deficits began to borrow more to cover current expenses. At the end of 2025, the total debt of entities of the rf grew by 11% year-on-year and reached 3.48 trillion rubles. The total debt rose to a record high for the last 15 years.

Authorities of Novosibirsk – the largest metropolis in the Asian part of russia with a population of 1.6 million – decided to freeze spending on road works amid the deterioration of the regional budget, which faced a significant drop in revenues and received a deficit of more than 50 billion rubles last year.

Political prisoners in belarus continue to be subjected to “cruel treatment and torture”, with some being held in “complete isolation for long periods of time, which amounts to torture and may constitute enforced disappearance”. This is stated in the 2025 report of the international human rights organization Human Rights Watch.

In the rb, the negative trade balance with countries outside the CIS has exceeded $9.3 billion.

Since May 2020, 9,363 people have been subjected to politically motivated criminal prosecution in belarus. At least 8,090 people have been given politically motivated sentences.

The rb’s authorities used budget funds to purchase 1,200 vouchers to a sanatorium located in Crimea, which is temporarily occupied by russia, for a total of almost $1.4 million.

Over the past five years, the number of children in belarusian kindergartens has decreased by 100,000.