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

US President Donald Trump has signed a bill imposing “hellish” sanctions against russia.

The US Department of State has decided to approve a potential deal to sell Ukraine equipment to modernize its air defence systems, as well as related equipment and services, worth approximately $2.68 billion.

“…Demand exceeds supply, and we will have to dig deep – the United States, but more importantly, our allies – and find a way for Ukraine to defend itself this winter,” said the USA’s Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker regarding the supply of Patriot missiles to Ukraine.

Denmark is stepping up its aid to Ukraine in response to a recent incident in which a russian warship fired flares at a Danish military helicopter. The new aid package for Ukraine is estimated to be worth 1.8 billion Danish kroner ($276 million) and will be directed towards air defence needs, the government said. “If the russians think they can intimidate us, our response is to step up our support for Ukraine even faster than we had planned,” said Defence Minister Jeppe Brøus.

Poland has joined the Coalition of Ukraine and European countries on Missile Defence. This was announced by the Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk. The Freya pan-European missile defence system project was launched at the summit of the Coalition of the Willing in Paris. In addition to Ukraine, the participants include Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

“… It is in the national interest to support Ukraine, which is engaged in combat operations, so that missiles are intercepted there and do not reach Poland,” said Minister of Defence of Poland Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

Ukraine and Romania have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening cooperation to ensure the reliable transit of Ukrainian goods, which provides for the development of transport links and border infrastructure.

The UN’s position on the russian war crimes committed in Bucha during the occupation remains unchanged, despite moscow’s every effort to deny russia’s responsibility. This was stated by the UN Secretary-General’s Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye Hakan Fidan has stated that Ankara had sent proposals to russia and Ukraine regarding the de-escalation of the situation in the Black Sea.

The European Union is preparing new sanctions following the state duma elections. The restrictions will target those organizing the vote and candidates in the occupied territories of Ukraine, as well as those whom Europe considers to be involved in undermining free elections in russia.

The European Union will never recognize the so-called elections to the state duma of the rf organized in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, and all those involved in conducting them will be held to account. This was stated by European Commission Spokesperson Christian Wiegand.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has stated that the EU does not recognize the “elections” in the russian-occupied region of Georgia – South Ossetia.

“We must call these so-called state duma elections what they really are: a political spectacle designed to consolidate putin’s power,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Margus Tsahkna.

Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Lithuania’s Seimas Remigijus Motuzas, believes that an escalation of the kremlin’s provocations is to be expected following the state duma elections.

NATO is prepared to respond to any potential escalation by russia on Europe’s eastern flank. This was stated by Chairman of the NATO Military Committee Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone.

Minister of the Interior of France Laurent Nuñez has stated that the threat posed by the rf is real and that it would be irresponsible to downplay it. “We are talking about a real threat, a threat that is well documented – the threat of a hybrid war being waged by russia,” the Minister emphasized.

Marine Le Pen, leader of the “National Rally”, and the party’s chairman Jordan Bardella have issued a joint statement emphasizing that russian “intimidation” would not influence France’s policy. In their joint statement, Le Pen and Bardella pointed out that russia “cannot hope to dictate, directly or indirectly, the policy” of France through “intimidation, threats, destabilization or psychological pressure”. “No provocation, no covert operation and no destabilizing action will be able to force France to help russia achieve its military objectives in Ukraine,” the statement reads.

The Federal Council of Switzerland has approved the Security Policy Strategy for 2026, which aims to strengthen the country’s resilience, defence capabilities and protection against threats, against the background of russia’s war against Ukraine.

The Swiss Federal Council has also decided to impose additional sanctions on belarus. In doing so, Bern is aligning itself with the European Union’s restrictive measures.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Baiba Braže has called for the continuation and intensification of sanctions pressure on the belarusian regime. She has stated that sanctions must remain in place as long as repression, the use of migration as a tool of pressure, and other actions that Latvia regards as a threat to its own security and that of other EU and NATO countries continue in belarus.

Moldova’s Minister of Agriculture Eugeniu Osmochescu has called for a complete ban on exports of goods to belarus and russia.

The Congress of the International Biathlon Union upheld the suspension of the membership of the russian biathlon union and the belarusian biathlon federation. Athletes from both countries will be unable to take part in international competitions next season, including under neutral status.

A shortage of petrol at filling stations, constant disruptions to airport operations and rising prices have significantly reduced domestic tourism in the rf. The number of bookings for domestic tours during the summer season fell by 6.3%, whilst the number of hotel nights booked dropped by 8.2%. Many tourists rescheduled their trips to other destinations and shortened their duration. Furthermore, during the summer, most major tour operators saw a 7–20% year-on-year decline in sales of domestic tours.

In the first half of the year, the russian oil company “lukoil” reduced hydrocarbon production by 5.2%, and oil refining – by 9.6%.

Sales volumes of wholesale consignments of AI-95 petrol and summer diesel fuel on the st petersburg international commodity and raw materials exchange for the period 14–18 September fell by 10.4% and 29.0%, respectively.

Revenue at NK “yugranefteprom” fell by 23% compared with the previous year. The company’s gross profit fell by 63.5%. Profit on sales fell by 87.8%.

Over the month, margarine and milk fat substitutes rose in price by 15–20%. This is linked to a 22.2% decline in palm oil imports into russia. The rise in margarine prices is putting pressure on bakers’ production costs: the retail price of sweet rolls has risen by 10.7% over the year. The cost of confectionery products, which depend on such ingredients, is also rising.

Plastic pipe production in russia fell by 14.1% over the year.

At russia’s five largest airports, the proportion of cancelled flights in the first two weeks of September rose to 3.5%, compared to 2.1% in August. Sochi Airport was hit the hardest, with 7% of flights – one in every 14 – cancelled from 1 through 14 September.

russians’ arrears on mortgage loans in the second quarter of 2026 rose by 73.4% compared with the same period in 2025.

The amount of cash held by russians in the first half of 2026 increased by 1.6 trillion rubles to reach 19.8 trillion. The annual rate of growth in cash holdings accelerated from 6.3% in January to 18.5% in June.

The 8th state duma, which had been in session since 2021 and was noted for a record number of repressive laws, was, in the opinion of the majority, “more harmful”: 40.2% of russians surveyed gave this response, making it the most popular answer of all.

russians who voted electronically in the state duma elections began receiving notifications that they had been registered for military service.

Since 1 January 2020, lukashenko has stated at least 20 times that he is not clinging to power and has “had his fill” of the presidency. Meanwhile, as of 18 September 2026, he has been in power for just over 32 years.

belarus’ GDP growth in August stood at just 0.7%, compared with the same period last year, following 5.4% in July.