Written by Ksawery Stawiński, Adam Jankowski
03.02 The life and death of Armen Sarkisjan
A bomb exploded on a luxury settlement on the Moscow River, in the Russian capital. The detonation killed Armen Sarkisjan, besides known as Armen Gorłowski. The Armenian grew up on Donbasa, where he grew up to be a high-caliber criminal and made a immense fortune. He collaborated with the Ukrainian authorities, including organizing militants distracting demonstrators in Kiev during the Revolution of Dignity.
However, erstwhile the war with alleged separatists broke out in Donbasa in 2014, Sarkisjan was placed on the list of persons wanted by Ukrainian safety services. However, this did not prevent him from continuing his criminal activity in the east. He was 1 of Ukraine's most infamous bandits, especially in the Donbas region.
After a full-scale invasion of Russia, the FSB recruited Sarkisyan to implement a strategical venture. The Armenian was liable for the creation of the Arbat Battalion (abbreviated by the Armenian Battalion), acting for the Russian Army. Contrary to the name, the battalion consisted mainly of prisoners imprisoned in east Ukraine.
Sarkisjan was appointed by the FSB to service as a prison strategy supervisor in areas occupied by Russia. After the death of Prigozhyn Arbat, he became 1 of the troops that took over soldiers orphaned by the Wagner Group.
Although no of the Ukrainian parties have officially admitted to the liquidation of Sarkisjan, specified a conclusion is made on its own. Modus operandi of the assassination resembles the attack in which Igor Kirillov was killed – a man liable for the Russian chemical war against Ukraine. In Moscow, no 1 from the Kremlin drill can feel safe.
07.02 Baltic states are detaching from Russia
On 7 February, the agreement between the Baltic States and Moscow on the transmission of electricity from Russia to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia expired. In 2024, these countries decided not to extend the agreement with the east energy supplier.
Until recently, the Baltic States, Russia and Belarus had joined the Energy Agreement BRELL, created inactive in the times of the USSR, erstwhile all these countries were part of 1 state organism. It was a post-Soviet relic that made energy safety of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia dependent on Kremlin's political decisions. It was so decided to discontinue cooperation.
In 2018, Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn announced their intention to disconnect from the BRELL strategy and join the European Energy Network CESA (Continental Europe Synchronous Area). This process was completed in February 2025 thanks to the merger of Lithuania with the Polish LitPol power line.
Due to many attacks on critical infrastructure in Europe involving Russian services, the fresh connection is peculiarly secure. Helicopters of Polish Power Network regularly patrol the route, taking care of its safety.
Despite the concerns of the Baltic residents, there was no increase in energy prices due to a control of suppliers. On the another hand, the activity of mysterious ships whose crews "accidentally" break off offshore power cables is simply a major threat to supply stability.
12.02 telephone to a friend
Donald Trump announced on his own community portal fact Social that he had a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin. Leaders discussed common history, current politics and the request to end the war in Ukraine. The presidents' visits to the US and Russia were besides announced. Trump expressed large optimism about starting cooperation with the Russian Federation. In the post, he listed members of his administration to deal with negotiations.
The conversation lasted an hr and a half and represents a turning point, symbolizing the beginning of the warming of American-Russian relations.
Kremlin spokesman, Dmitri Pieskov, commented on the conversation between both presidents, stressing that Russia considers the US as a key partner in peace negotiations. According to the Russian side, only Moscow, Washington and Kiev should be at the discussion table – without the participation of Europe. The countries of the continent were completely omitted in the conversation. There was careful optimism in the Kremlin. The place of the first gathering between representatives of the US and Russia is to be Riyadh.
In an interview with The Economist Volodymyr Zelenski referred to the announced peace plan. erstwhile asked if he expected what he might look like, he replied that he doubted that specified a plan existed at all. According to him, any agreement can only be reached in agreement with all parties to the conflict. The president of Ukraine powerfully excludes the anticipation of a truce between Washington and Moscow being imposed on Kiev.
These events are a context for the Munich safety Summit, which the Institute of fresh Europe summarized in a publication Europo, quo vadis?
12.02 Russian Base in Sudan
The head of the Sudanese MFA met in Moscow with Sergei Lavrow to discuss the issue of building a naval base on the west coast of the Red Sea. The ministers of both states reached an agreement and Russia obtained approval to deploy its navy in the city of Port Sudan.
This is an crucial success of Moscow, which has been seeking to deploy its troops in Sudan since 2019. The first talks were held with then president Umar al-Bashir, but his overthrow forced the renegotiation of the agreement with the fresh Sudanese authorities, which occurred in 2020. The situation became even more complicated in 2023 as Sudan plunged into a inactive ongoing civilian war. Despite these difficulties, the agreement was finalized.
Under the agreement, Russia obtained the right to build and usage a military base for 25 years. Up to 300 personnel and Russian warships, including nuclear-powered units, may be stationed on its territory.
The agreement is of peculiar importance in the context of the December Syrian coup. The failure of power by Bashar al-Assad meant for Moscow a weakening position in the region and the failure of a long-term ally. Until now, the Russian military base in Tartus was the only military port controlled by Russia outside its territory. Although Port Sudan may take part in this role, the geography of the deployment of Russian forces is clearly changing from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea.
Russia thus loses military influence in the mediate East, but strengthens its position in Africa, which could have strategical consequences in the future.
18.02 gathering of the U.S. delegation and the Russian Federation in Saudi Arabia
On February 18, 2025, a high-ranking diplomatic gathering was held in Riyadh between the United States and Russia delegations. Its aim was to improve bilateral relations and discuss plans to end the conflict in Ukraine. This was the most extended diplomatic gathering between these countries since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The American delegation was chaired by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National safety Advisor Mike Waltz and Chief Advisor to president Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff. The gathering was described as "positive, constructive and very solid". The Russian side was attended, among others, by the abroad Minister Sergey Lavrov, the advisor to president Vladimir Putin for global affairs Yuri Uszakov and the Director-General of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev.
Three key issues were agreed during the talks of about 4.5 hours:
- Establish diplomatic teams to improve cooperation in Moscow and Washington.
- The establishment of high-level groups to specify “conflict parameters” in Ukraine.
- Identifying possible areas of economical cooperation that could make after the end of the war – the American side described this as a "historical economical opportunity" for Russia.
Sergei Lavrow besides informed of the planned gathering of abroad deputy ministers, which aims to establish details of the possible summit of Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. However, no circumstantial date was given for specified a meeting.
The decision of U.S. president Donald Trump to make direct talks with Vladimir Putin, while ignoring Ukraine and European allies, caused concern in the European capitals. Many European leaders fear that this may lead to findings that are detrimental to Ukraine and undermine the stableness of the region.
While the United States and Russia proceed to talk, Europe is trying to keep unity and guarantee that its voice is heard in key decisions on the future of Ukraine and on the safety of the continent.
23.02 The European Union adopted the 16th package of sanctions against Russia
The European Union approved the 16th package of sanctions against Russia, aimed at further weakening the Russian war device and strengthening support for Ukraine. Poland has played a key function in the negotiations on fresh restrictions, with representatives chairing talks in Brussels.
The fresh sanctions include 84 people and entities, including companies from China and North Korea supporting Kremlin activities. The restrictions focus on the arms manufacture and the entities related to the alleged "shadow float", the Russian oil transport system. Additional measures have besides been introduced to counter the circumvention of erstwhile sanctions, which is intended to increase their effectiveness.
Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski reported that the permanent representations of the associate States of the European Union agreed a fresh package of sanctions against the Russian Federation, which has the chance to be formally adopted by the abroad Affairs Council on the 3rd anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Despite the restrictions introduced, Russia continues to effort to circumvent them. An example is the export of Russian plywood, which goes to warehouses in Europe despite existing bans. This shows that Moscow has learned to circumvent sanctions and that any European actors are inactive willing to cooperate with Russia, which undermines the effectiveness of the restrictions imposed.
24.02 Britain announces Russia's largest sanction package since the start of the war
In the 3rd year since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United Kingdom announced the largest since 2022 a package of sanctions, aimed at individuals and entities supporting Kremlin aggression. The fresh restrictions include over 100 entities key to the Russian war machine.
Sanctions hit Russian military supply chains, covering manufacturers and suppliers of mechanical tools, electronics and dual-use goods specified as microprocessors utilized in weapon systems. The restrictions included companies from Central Asia, Turkey, Thailand, India and China – the largest supplier of key components for the Russian army.
The fresh restrictions besides concern Russia's cooperation with North Korea. The sanctions included North Korean defence minister No Kwang Chola and another high-ranking officials liable for sending over 11,000 North Korean soldiers to Russia. British sources describe these forces as ‘gun meat’, stressing that so far they have suffered more than 4,000 casualties.
Another crucial component of the sanction package is to reduce the transfer of advanced technologies. The restrictions included 13 Russian entities, including LLC Grant-Trade, whose owner Marat Mustafaev and his sister Dinar Mustafaev organized the smuggling of advanced technology from Europe to Russia, thus supporting the Russian war machine.
For the first time, fresh powers were besides applied to sanction abroad financial institutions supporting the Russian war system. Under these measures, sanctions were imposed on the Kyrgyz OJSC Keremet Bank to disrupt Russia's usage of the global financial strategy to finance war activities.
British abroad Minister David Lammy stressed that any disruption of Russian supply lines, all blocked ruble and all revealed individual supporting Putin's aggression is simply a step towards a just and lasting peace. He besides added that specified peace can only be achieved through force, and the sanctions introduced are also step in this direction.
The Russian embassy in London condemned the latest sanctions, identifying them as "illegal" and claiming that many of the entities active have no direct connection with the conflict in Ukraine.
The fresh sanction package aims to further weaken the Russian war device and to support Ukraine in its quest for peace and stableness in the region.
25.02 Alexander Dugin proposes improvement of political sciences at Russian universities
Alexander Dugin, a well-known Russian philosopher and geopoliticist, presented a draft improvement of political sciences at Russian universities. The aim of this task is to adapt the curriculum of political discipline to the Russian cultural and historical identity.
Dugin's squad argues that political sciences in Russia are now dominated by "americocentrism", which they believe leads to the promotion of neoliberal ideas. They believe that specified an approach is harmful due to the fact that it shapes attitudes contrary to Russian civilization and culture.
As part of the proposed reform, emphasis is placed on "strengthening citizenship" and on shaping patriotic attitudes. This means prioritising public and public life over private life and subjecting the interests of the individual to the values and purposes of the homeland.
The fresh curriculum would besides take into account the concepts of "Legislation, Autocracy and Nationality" as the foundations of Russian statehood.
Dugin's proposal met with various reactions. This task highlights the increasing influence of Eurasian ideology in Russian academic and political discourse. This is part of a broader effort to redefin national identity and Russia's global position.
27.02 Competition for the extraction of natural materials in the context of war: Russia offers US cooperation in the exploitation of uncommon earth metals
Vladimir Putin announced his willingness to cooperate with abroad partners, including the United States, in the exploitation of Russian uncommon earth metallic deposits. This offer besides includes areas of east Ukraine which were annexed by Russia.
Putin stated:
“We will be happy to work with abroad partners, including American partners. The same applies to our fresh territories. We are ready to engage abroad partners in alleged new, historically our, territories that have returned to the Russian Federation.”
U.S. president Donald Trump responded positively to this proposal, saying:
"We would besides like to buy minerals on Russian soil, if possible. They have very good reserves of uncommon earth metals, as did Ukraine. And oil and gas. This is great. It's besides large for Russia. We can do business there. They have very valuable lands that are not used.”
However, Putin's proposal met with criticism from Russian military bloggers who expressed discontent with the U.S. cooperation in this area. Popular blogger Two Majors commented on the situation as follows:
“To be honest, we missed the minute erstwhile the chaotic urge of the Yankees to bargain Russian natural wealth abruptly turned into a possible of mutually beneficial cooperation with our American ‘partners’.”
Russia has the world's 5th largest reserves of uncommon earth metals, estimated at 28.7 million tonnes, of which it presently operates 3.8 million tonnes. The country seeks to importantly grow its manufacture in this area and plans to become 1 of the 5 largest producers in the world, with a share in the global marketplace reaching 12% by 2030.
Despite these ambitions, the Russian uncommon earth metals manufacture faces many challenges specified as low home request and strong competition from China, which dominate the planet production of these natural materials. The proposal to cooperate with the US on their exploitation may be an effort to overcome these difficulties and strengthen Russia's position on the global marketplace for strategical natural materials.
