Politics
Zelensky: Contributions to the PURL programme in 2026 have already reached $584 million
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that since the beginning of 2026, international partners have allocated $584 million to the PURL programme. The total funding requirement for this year is $15 billion.
Vance stated the US red lines regarding Iran and allowed for a forceful scenario
The United States will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons, as this could trigger an uncontrolled arms race in the Middle East. Washington has called this its key interest and has not ruled out the use of force if negotiations fail.
Sweden has named Russia as the main threat to security and warned of the risk of escalation
Swedish military intelligence has stated that Russia is the main military threat to Sweden and NATO, and that its increasingly risky actions in the region could lead to a dangerous escalation.
Investigation: Max messenger linked to Putin's family
The Russian government is promoting Max as a national alternative to WhatsApp and Telegram, and the Russian president's family might be controlling it through the complex ownership structure of the VK holding company. This is according to a journalistic investigation published on 18 February.
Talks in Geneva ended without a breakthrough: progress has been made on military issues, but political questions remain unresolved
The second day of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Geneva lasted about two hours and ended without agreement on key political issues. At the same time, the parties claim progress in the military sphere, particularly regarding the mechanism for monitoring a possible ceasefire.
The US and Iran have announced progress in nuclear talks in Geneva
Another round of negotiations between the United States and Iran on the nuclear programme took place in Geneva, following which the parties announced progress and an agreement to work on the text of a potential agreement. At the same time, both sides recognise that many complex technical issues still lie ahead.
Zelensky: Ukrainians will not allow Donbas to be handed over to Russia unilaterally
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian society would not support a peace agreement that would involve the unilateral withdrawal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the controlled part of Donbas and its transfer to Russia. According to him, any decision regarding the territories must be put to a referendum.
Ukraine expects new defence aid packages by 24 February, with over 80% of support coordinated through NATO
Ukraine expects that new defence support packages, tailored to clearly defined needs, will begin to arrive by 24 February. This was stated by Deputy Head of the President's Office Ihor Zhovkva during a meeting with NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy Boris Ruge.
Negotiations on Ukraine in Geneva: a chance for a breakthrough or new obstacles?
On the eve of the resumption of peace talks in Geneva, the situation surrounding Ukraine remains complex and controversial. Despite cautious optimism at the beginning of the year, recent events in Kyiv and Moscow have revealed new risks, and key issues of security and territory remain unresolved.
Romania to build rare earth metals processing plant using raw materials from Greenland
A rare earth element processing plant will be built in Brasov, with the concentrate to be mined by an American company in Greenland. The project will be implemented on a parity basis by Romania and Critical Metals Corp.
Iran says progress has been made in talks with the US in Geneva, but an agreement is not close
Iran and the United States agreed on the main guiding principles for further work on the nuclear deal during talks in Geneva, but the final document is still a long way off, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.
Sweden calls on EU to ban maritime services for Russian tankers even without US support
Swedish Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson said that the European Union should insist on a complete ban on maritime services for Russia's shadow fleet, even if the United States or the G7 countries do not support this move. According to her, Russia's military economy is under significant pressure, and sanctions are proving effective.
