Russia

India shifts crude sourcing away from Russia

WORLD & POLITICS INDIA

Data for January shows India’s crude imports from Russia fell 23.5% month-on-month and about one-third year-on-year, taking Russia’s share to its lowest level since late 2022.

France lets a suspected Russian sanctions-evasion tanker depart

WORLD & POLITICS FRANCE

French authorities released the oil tanker Grinch on Tuesday after its owner paid a fine of several million euros tied to alleged EU sanctions circumvention.

Russia and the EU move toward tighter crypto controls

WORLD & POLITICS RUSSIA

Russia’s finance ministry disclosed an estimate of ~50 billion rubles ($648 million) in daily domestic crypto transaction turnover and said a bill to bring parts of the market under licensing and compliance is expected in the spring State Duma session.

India AI Impact Summit 2026 sets controlled opening day access

WORLD & POLITICS INDIA

Organisers issued an advisory restricting entry on February 16 and keeping the Bharat Mandapam Expo Arena closed that day, with the expo opening to the public from February 17.

US says India agreed to halt additional Russian crude purchases

WORLD & POLITICS INDIA

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the Munich Security Conference that India committed to stop buying additional Russian oil.

India–Ukraine talks on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference

WORLD & POLITICS INDIA

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Munich on February 14, 2026, and the two sides reaffirmed plans to expand trade and deepen bilateral ties.

U.S.-brokered Russia–Ukraine negotiations resume in Geneva

WORLD & POLITICS USA

Russia and Ukraine confirmed a second round of U.S.-brokered peace talks in Geneva on February 17–18, 2026, with Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky leading the Russian delegation.

Russia blocks a major Germany–Russia academic exchange channel

WORLD & POLITICS GERMANY

Russia’s Justice Ministry designated the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) an “undesirable organization,” effectively forcing it to stop operating in Russia.

UK expands military support for Ukraine’s air defence

WORLD & POLITICS USA

Britain committed hundreds of millions of dollars for Ukraine air defences, including sending 1,000 UK-made lightweight missiles worth over $500 million and allocating about $200 million to a NATO mechanism to purchase US weapons for Kyiv.

Russia blocks a major consumer messaging channel

WORLD & POLITICS RUSSIA

Russian authorities have banned WhatsApp and are directing users to switch to the state-backed messenger MAX, citing WhatsApp’s non-compliance with Russian law.

Russia tightens control over consumer messaging apps

WORLD & POLITICS RUSSIA

Russia ordered internet providers to block Meta-owned WhatsApp nationwide and said it is further curbing access to Telegram.

Ukraine drone strike temporarily cuts utilities in Russia's Voronezh, Governor says

WORLD & POLITICS RUSSIA

A Ukrainian drone strike temporarily disrupted power and heating in Voronezh, Russia, highlighting ongoing tensions in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

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