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EU Warns Venice Biennale Over Russia Pavilion Return

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The European Commission has warned it may withdraw funding from the Venice Biennale if organisers allow Russia to reopen its national pavilion at this year’s art exhibition. Russia’s pavilion was closed after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which led to the exclusion of Russian artists and institutions from many cultural events across Europe. The EU said institutions must comply with sanctions and avoid giving a platform to individuals who support the Kremlin’s war.

The commission said it could review measures including suspending a current EU grant to the Biennale Foundation, which organises the event in Venice. The EU currently provides about 2 million euros for film-related projects over three years, while the festival also receives major funding from the Italian government. Culture and foreign ministers from more than 20 European countries have also written to Biennale President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco calling Russia’s participation unacceptable.

Buttafuoco defended the exhibition as a global space for dialogue without censorship, saying it should remain open even to countries involved in conflicts. However, Alessandro Giuli, Italy’s culture minister, said the government does not support the decision. Ukrainian officials also urged the international art community to stay alert to what they described as Russia’s use of culture for propaganda during the ongoing war.

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UN Probe: Russia’s Deportation of Ukrainian Children a Crime Against Humanity

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A United Nations investigation has concluded that the deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children by Russian authorities since the 2022 invasion amounts to crimes against humanity. The report, prepared by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, states that children have been specifically targeted, causing severe and lasting harm to their lives and future. The findings will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva later this week.

The inquiry examined 1,205 cases involving children from five Ukrainian regions and found that around 80% of them have not yet returned home. Ukrainian officials estimate that more than 19,500 children have been illegally deported or forcibly displaced to Russia and Belarus, actions they say violate the Geneva Conventions.

The report says the deportations followed a widespread and systematic pattern across Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. It also cited research indicating that Russia expanded forced re-education programs for deported children. Russia denies the allegations, stating that the children were voluntarily evacuated from war zones for their safety.

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Armed Robots Increasingly Used on Ukraine War Front

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The war in Ukraine is rapidly evolving into a high-tech battlefield, with armed robots playing a growing role in combat operations. Uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) are now being deployed by Ukrainian forces to carry out risky tasks such as attacking enemy positions, defending front lines, and even capturing opposing soldiers. Military officials say these robotic systems help reduce risks to human troops in increasingly dangerous combat zones.

Some Ukrainian UGVs are equipped with machine guns, grenade launchers, or explosives and are used in ambushes or kamikaze-style missions against enemy positions. Unlike aerial drones, these ground robots can move quietly across the battlefield, making them difficult to detect. Despite their advanced capabilities, commanders say the final decision to fire remains with human operators controlling the machines remotely to avoid mistakes and protect civilians.

Both Ukraine and Russia are expanding the use of robotic combat systems as the war continues. Ukrainian manufacturers have significantly increased production, with thousands of UGVs already deployed and demand expected to surge further. Experts say future battles could involve swarms of coordinated drones and robots operating across land, air and sea, marking a major shift in the way wars are fought.

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Russia Warns Finland Over Possible Hosting of Nuclear Weapons

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Russia has warned that Finland would become more vulnerable if it allows nuclear weapons to be stationed on its territory. The Kremlin issued the warning after Finland indicated it may lift a long-standing ban on hosting nuclear arms, a move that could enable their deployment during wartime under NATO planning.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the decision would escalate tensions in Europe and prompt a response from Russia. According to Moscow, deploying nuclear weapons in Finland would be viewed as a direct threat, forcing Russia to take countermeasures to protect its security.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said the proposal is not due to an immediate security threat but is meant to allow Finland to participate fully in NATO’s nuclear planning. The shift reflects broader changes in European defense strategy following the war in Ukraine and renewed discussions on nuclear deterrence led by Emmanuel Macron in Europe.

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Russia Warns Finland Over Possible Hosting of Nuclear Weapons

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Russia has warned that Finland would become more vulnerable if it decides to host nuclear weapons on its territory, escalating tensions in Europe. The warning came after Finland signaled plans to lift its long-standing ban on hosting nuclear arms, a move that could allow weapons to be stationed there during wartime as part of NATO’s nuclear strategy.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said deploying nuclear weapons in Finland would increase risks and provoke a response from Russia. According to Moscow, such a decision would heighten security threats along their shared 1,340-km border and add to rising tensions across the European continent.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said the policy change is aimed at allowing Finland to fully participate in NATO’s nuclear planning rather than addressing an immediate security threat. The debate comes as European countries reassess their defence strategies following the war in Ukraine and proposals by Emmanuel Macron to expand Europe’s nuclear deterrence cooperation.

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EU Diplomat Says Iran’s Actions Risk Its Own Downfall

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European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Iran’s government is undermining its own future by launching indiscriminate attacks across the region. Speaking to reporters, she accused Tehran of pursuing a strategy aimed at spreading instability and escalating conflict in the Middle East, warning that such actions could ultimately backfire on the Iranian leadership.

Tensions escalated further after Turkey reported that NATO air defence systems intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile heading toward Turkish airspace. Radosław Sikorski, Poland’s foreign minister, criticised Iran’s actions, saying the country was widening the conflict by targeting nations that were not directly involved in the war.

Kallas also warned that the growing Middle East crisis risks diverting international attention away from the war in Ukraine. While she noted that the conflict could weaken Russia by costing it a regional ally, she cautioned that Moscow might still benefit from rising global oil prices triggered by the escalating tensions.

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German Intelligence Alleges Russia Concealing True War-Related Budget Deficit

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Germany’s foreign intelligence service, Federal Intelligence Service (BND), has accused Moscow of understating the economic toll of its war in Ukraine, estimating that Russia’s 2025 budget deficit is significantly higher than officially reported. In a LinkedIn post, the BND said the actual federal deficit stood at 8.01 trillion roubles, compared with the official figure of 5.65 trillion roubles, or 2.6% of GDP. The agency claimed the shortfall was about 2.36 trillion roubles ($30.45 billion) greater than acknowledged by Russian authorities.

The BND said Western sanctions were having a “clear effect” on the Russian economy, compounded by sharply lower oil and gas revenues due to falling global energy prices. According to the agency, Russia has been forced to sell oil at steep discounts amid sanctions and pressure from the United States on key buyers. It also estimated that Russia’s consolidated budget deficit, including regional accounts, widened to 8.3 trillion roubles in 2025, or 3.9% of GDP — more than double the level recorded in 2024.

The Kremlin dismissed concerns about deteriorating public finances, describing falling revenues and a widening deficit as “routine difficulties” that could be managed thanks to overall macroeconomic stability. Russia’s Finance Ministry has not publicly responded to the BND’s assessment. Although global oil prices have recently risen following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, Reuters calculations suggest the rebound remains insufficient to balance Russia’s budget.

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Zelenskiy Says Russia Unlikely to Achieve Planned Advances in Ukraine

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia will struggle to fulfil its planned military advances, asserting that Moscow has failed to meet objectives it set last year. Speaking in Kyiv, Zelenskiy stated that Russia’s broader strategy remains focused on occupying eastern and southern parts of Ukraine, but insisted that current battlefield realities do not support the ambitions outlined in Russian plans for 2026–2027.

According to Zelenskiy, Russia continues to prioritise full control of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the Donbas, while also eyeing advances toward the southeastern city of Dnipro and the southern Odesa region along the Black Sea. However, he said Ukraine does not believe Russian forces currently possess the capability to accomplish those objectives. The outcome, he added, will largely depend on continued Western weapons supplies and Ukraine’s expanding domestic arms production.

Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its troops had captured three additional villages in eastern Ukraine as part of a prolonged offensive. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces had retaken nine settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region since late January and were continuing counteroffensive operations along the southeastern front. Territorial control remains a major sticking point in U.S.-mediated peace efforts, with Russia demanding concessions that Kyiv has firmly rejected.

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Russia’s Gulf Pivot Fuels Surge in Arabic-Speaking Tourists

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Russia is witnessing a sharp rise in visitors from Gulf nations as closer diplomatic and economic ties translate into a tourism boom. From husky sledding near Moscow to hot air balloon rides over snow-covered landscapes, tourists from Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are embracing winter experiences unfamiliar in their desert homelands. Attractions around the capital have added Arabic signage and tailored services to cater to the growing influx.

The surge comes amid Moscow’s strategic pivot away from the West during its war in Ukraine, strengthening engagement with Gulf states that have played diplomatic roles in prisoner exchanges and humanitarian efforts. Increased direct flights, visa-free arrangements and warmer political ties have supported the growth. Saudi Arabia ranked second among foreign visitors last year with nearly 75,000 tourists — a 36% annual increase — while arrivals from the UAE exceeded 59,000. Tour operators say some markets, including Saudi Arabia, have expanded nearly fifteenfold compared with pre-pandemic levels.

Despite sanctions and logistical hurdles, including airport disruptions and cash payment limitations due to suspended Western card services, Gulf tourists are spending heavily on luxury hotels, shopping and premium experiences. Russia recorded 1.64 million foreign visitors in 2025, a modest increase from the previous year though still below pre-pandemic peaks. Industry leaders say demand from Arab countries continues to grow, even as security checks and geopolitical tensions present ongoing challenges.

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Hungary Threatens to Block EU Sanctions on Russia

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Hungary has vowed to block the European Union’s latest sanctions package against Russia and a proposed 90-billion-euro loan for Ukraine, escalating tensions ahead of the fourth anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion. The dispute centres on the disruption of Russian oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline, which Budapest and Slovakia say has undermined their energy security. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has indicated that Hungary will withhold support for the measures until the issue is resolved.

EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels urged Hungary to reconsider, warning that unity is crucial as the war drags on. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in an interview with the BBC, said Russian leader Vladimir Putin had “already started” World War Three and called for intensified global pressure on Moscow. Meanwhile, U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to broker peace have yet to yield a breakthrough, with recent talks in Geneva failing to produce progress.

The standoff comes as Russian drone strikes killed two people in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, according to Ukrainian officials, while Kyiv claims it has regained control over parts of the southern frontline. Hungary and Slovakia have also warned they could halt emergency electricity exports to Ukraine if oil flows via Druzhba are not restored. The clash underscores deep divisions within the EU as it seeks to maintain pressure on Russia while managing internal political and energy challenges.

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