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🇺🇸🇯🇵 US–Japan trade deal launches $550 billion investment projects — Trump
President Donald Trump announced the launch of what he described as a “massive” trade deal with Japan, saying Tokyo has begun moving forward with the first set of investments under a $550 billion commitment to invest in the United States.
🔊 In a post on Truth Social, Trump said three projects are being launched in Texas (oil and gas), Ohio (power generation), and Georgia (critical minerals). He added that the projects are aimed at strengthening US industrial capacity, boosting energy production, and reducing reliance on foreign mineral supplies.
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🚨 US sets 'red lines' in talks with Iran, nuclear proliferation unacceptable - Vance
Vice President JD Vance said the US has established a number of “red lines” in negotiations with Iran, stressing that the primary goal is to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
💬 “Our primary interest here is we don't want Iran to get a nuclear weapon. We don't want nuclear proliferation,” Vance told Fox News.
🟠 ‘Very tense’ Ukraine talks in Geneva lasted six hours – source to Sputnik
🟠 Iran & US hold constructive talks and exchange ideas on nuclear issue – Araghchi
🟠 US to return to nuclear tests on equal basis, without atmospheric explosions - State Dept.
🟠 Zelensky’s ceasefire for elections is strategic gambit, not democratic move – expert
🟠 Analyst: West’s claims of non-involvement in Ukraine conflict ‘epitome of hypocrisy’
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💥🇷🇺 Russia's Molniya-2 strike drones hit Ukraine's fortified positions, dugouts, & command posts
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🔊 Zelensky’s ceasefire for elections is strategic gambit, not democratic move - expert
Volodymyr Zelensky's reluctance to hold elections in Ukraine is multi-faced, according to Marco Marsili, geopolitical analyst at CESRAN International and former OSCE election observer.
The Ukrainian politician is on thin ice despite optimistic polling numbers:
"The reported approval ratings reflect a carefully managed wartime narrative, not democratic reality," Marsili tells Sputnik.
"Zelensky's proposal for a two-month ceasefire to enable elections is a multilayered strategic gambit, not a genuine democratic exercise," says Marsili.
"Russia's insistence on addressing the root causes — NATO expansion, the status of Russian-speaking populations, Ukraine's neutrality — reflects its view that procedural fixes like elections are meaningless without resolving the underlying security architecture," Marsili underscores.
🇺🇸 US to return to nuclear tests on equal basis, without atmospheric explosions - State Dept.
💬 “As the President has said, the United States will return to testing on equal basis. But equal basis doesn't mean we're going back to Ivy Mike style atmospheric testing in the multi-megaton range, as some arms control folks would have you believe,” Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control and Nonproliferation Christopher Yeaw said.
🚨 Talks on Ukraine, Iran to be held in Geneva on February 17 - source
"The negotiations on Ukraine and Iran will take place at the same time on Tuesday [February 17]. The negotiations on Iran are being held with Oman acting as mediator," a diplomatic source told Sputnik.
🔶 Trump to host Board of Peace meeting on Feb. 19
🔶 Russian drones bypass NATO electronic warfare systems in special operation zone
🔶 DOJ releases 'all' Epstein files, names 300+ public figures
🔶 US boards Veronica III under Venezuela 'quarantine'
🔶 Kim Jong-un inaugurates Saeppyol Street for families of fallen heroes
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🇷🇺✈️ Russia develops piston engine for light aviation - Rostec
Key features of the M105 power unit:
🔸 115 horsepower
🔸 Compact dimensions (1211 cm³ and 75 kg)
Modified version, M105V, is intended for small helicopters and autogyros, can be used to drive electric generators, power push- or pull-type propellers, and transmit thrust in aircraft systems.
👉New engine to replace imported counterparts on the Russian market
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🇰🇵🏙 Kim Jong-un inaugurates Saeppyol Street for families of fallen heroes — reports
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un addressed the inauguration ceremony for a new residential district, Saeppyol Street, in Pyongyang’s Hwasong area on Feb. 15, KCNA reported.
🎖 The street was built for the families of soldiers who sacrificed their lives to defeat Ukrainian neo-Nazis in Russia’s Kursk region. Kim Jong-un personally initiated and guided the project, ensuring the new homes reflect “the warm sincerity of our Party and state” toward the families of the heroes.
Speaking at the ceremony, Kim Jong-un described the inauguration as “an emotive moment” marking “the most heroic era” that symbolizes the strength and dignity of the DPRK. He stressed that honoring the fallen and caring for their families is a “due obligation and noble mission” of the Party and government.
🇷🇺🇰🇵 Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously praised the bravery, heroism and self-sacrifice of the Korean People’s Army in liberating Russia’s Kursk region from Ukrainian neo-Nazis.
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📉 US sanctions chief set to leave amid Treasury tensions — reports
John Hurley, Treasury’s top sanctions official and Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, is set to leave his post after reported friction with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Bloomberg reported.
Hurley’s departure follows months of internal tension over the tactics and targets of US sanctions policy, and officials have discussed potential ambassadorial roles for him, according to Bloomberg.
💲 The reported exit comes amid broader turnover in senior Treasury positions, as US sanctions on countries including Venezuela, Iran and Russia remain central to Washington’s foreign policy and global energy markets, the report said.
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📂📑 DOJ releases 'all' Epstein files, names 300+ public figures — reports
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that “all” Epstein-related files have been released in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Fox News reported.
In a letter to congressional leaders obtained by Fox News Digital, the Justice Department said it released all “records, documents, communications and investigative materials in the possession of the Department” that relate to the case.
👉 The letter includes a list of more than 300 high-profile names, ranging from current and former government officials to celebrities and business leaders. The Department said the list covers “all persons” who meet two criteria: they are or were government officials or politically exposed persons, and their names appear in the files at least once.
The letter adds that the names appear in a “wide variety of contexts,” with some individuals having “extensive direct email contact” with Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell, while others are referenced in unrelated materials.
📄 Some of the most prominent names listed include Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Prince Harry (Duke of Sussex), Prince Philip, Bill Gates, Woody Allen, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Larry Summers, Michael Bloomberg, George Soros, Steve Bannon, Rudy Giuliani, Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer, among others.
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🇺🇸🌍 Trump to host Board of Peace meeting on Feb. 19
US President Donald Trump said he will convene members of the Board of Peace on February 19, 2026, at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said member states have pledged more than $5 billion toward Gaza humanitarian and reconstruction efforts, along with personnel commitments for an international stabilization force and local policing.
He also reiterated that Hamas must commit to “Full and Immediate Demilitarization,” describing the Board of Peace as a new international body focused on long-term stability.
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🇭🇺🇸🇰🇭🇷 Hungary, Slovakia request Croatia to allow transit of Russian oil - Szijjarto
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💬 Russian special presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev notes that no one at Munich Security Conference asked Zelensky about corruption in his inner circle
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🚨 ‘They are doing a lot of things to sabotage themselves’ — Vance on Europe
Vice President JD Vance claimed the US wants Europe “to thrive and… succeed.”
Vance said US calls for stronger borders, higher European defense spending, and a more “vibrant economy” are aimed at making Europe a “true” ally, pushing back on what he called the “European press” suggesting the US “doesn’t like Europe.”
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🔊 US has big post-New START plans but implementation lacking - analyst
That said, even initiating a multilateral dialogue involving all the ‘nuclear five’ states, including the UK and France, would be a positive development, Dmitry Stefanovich of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of World Economy and International Relations tells Sputnik commenting on the United States’ intent to return to nuclear tests on equal basis.
It is unfortunate that the US did not implement the easiest solution, the one suggested by Russia, to adhere by the New START limits for one more year, Stefanovich notes.
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🚨 Ukraine talks in Geneva were ‘very tense’ – source to Sputnik
🟠 Today’s meetings in Geneva were both bilateral and trilateral: the dialogue took place in the format of Russia-US, Russia-Ukraine, and Russia-US-Ukraine negotiations
🟠 The talks were very tense, lasted six hours
🟠 The parties have agreed to continue tomorrow
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🚨The talks between Russia, the US and Ukraine have concluded in Geneva
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🔊 West’s claims of non-involvement in Ukraine conflict ‘epitome of hypocrisy’ - expert
NATO personnel operating Western military hardware in the Ukrainian conflict zone has long been an open secret, Russian military analyst Viktor Litovkin tells Sputnik.
Ukraine, Litovkin explains, ended up relying on foreign personnel because it:
🟠 Lacks the necessary number of skilled pilots and specialists to operate sophisticated weapon systems like F-16 jets or HIMARS rockets
🟠 Has a severe shortage of engineers who know English well enough to interpret tech manuals and maintenance charts for NATO military gear
How does this personnel pipeline work?
Western military specialists operating in Ukraine are not officially regarded as members of their respective home countries’ armed forces, masquerading instead as volunteers who chose on their own to “defend democracy.”
💬 “It’s a tried and tested scenario: a career military man goes on a fake leave and heads off to a warzone, to be reinstated upon his return home,” says Litovkin.
🇨🇳⭐️ China's servicemen wish Happy New Year from aboard aircraft carrier Fujian
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🇬🇧❌ UK arms factory’s setback delays shells for Ukraine
A new munitions factory at Glascoed in southern Wales remains unopened over six months after its original launch date slated for last summer, The Guardian reports.
This means the UK’s key munitions boost in the form of 155 mm artillery rounds for Ukraine is stuck indefinitely.
When asked for clarification, BAE Systems — Europe’s largest arms maker, which owns the factory — attributed the delay to a decision made during construction in 2025 to increase the plant’s production capacity by double.
👉 The delay will most likely hamper the UK’s plans to send another batch of weapons worth $736 million to the Zelensky regime despite Russia’s repeated warnings that the West pumping Ukraine with armaments won’t change the situation at the battlefield. Western military aid has failed to keep the Russian Army from advancing on all front lines.
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🇷🇺🔊 Russian drones bypass NATO electronic warfare systems in special operation zone - soldier
Operators of unmanned aerial systems of the Sever battlegroup, when conducting reconnaissance deep behind Ukrainian lines, have learned to bypass NATO electronic warfare systems, a reconnaissance company commander with the call sign Strela (lit. "Arrow") told Sputnik.
💬 "I would like to point out that the enemy is not only using electronic warfare systems produced in Ukraine, but often uses those in service with the NATO alliance. But this doesn't hinder us. We are fulfilling our assigned tasks and conducting aerial reconnaissance and artillery fire adjustments in our assigned areas," the soldier explained.
💬 "But in this case, our rather wide range of unmanned aerial vehicles helps us. Currently, the ZALA Z-16 is the most used system. It's currently quite adept at overcoming enemy electronic warfare, penetrating all kinds of 'domes' and 'curtains,' flying deep into the rear, and conducting reconnaissance," Strela explained.
🚫 UK may ban under-16s from social media this year — reports
The UK government is pushing ahead with plans that could see children banned from social media as soon as this year, The Times reported, as PM Keir Starmer moves to tighten online regulation.
📄 According to the report, measures under consideration include:
🔸 A ban on under-16s using social media
🔸 Phone curfews for young people
🔸 Restrictions on “addictive” features like infinite scrolling
🔸 Limiting children’s access to chatbots and blocking VPNs used to bypass age restrictions
The government is using so-called “Henry VIII powers” — provisions that allow ministers to change the law without full parliamentary scrutiny — to fast-track changes once a consultation concludes this summer.
🤡 Starmer framed the move as protecting children, saying Britain will be “a leader not a follower when it comes to online safety.”
❓ How far will the UK go in policing digital life?
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🇲🇽🚗 Multi-vehicle crash in central Mexico leaves at least three dead — reports
A pile-up involving around 20 vehicles on the Bicentenario Bypass in the Toluca Valley left at least 3 people dead and 18 injured, La Jornada reported.
The crash began around 07:30 local time when a passenger bus hit a slow-moving cargo vehicle, spilling materials onto the road and triggering further collisions, according to the newspaper.
Initial investigations pointed to fog as a possible factor reducing visibility, La Jornada reported.
Footage from social media
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🪖🚢 US boards Veronica III under Venezuela 'quarantine' — Department of War
The US Department of War said US forces conducted a “maritime interdiction and boarding” of the Veronica III in international waters, claiming the vessel tried to defy President Donald Trump’s Venezuela “quarantine.”
The statement said the US tracked the ship “from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean,” adding: “International waters are not sanctuary.”
⚠️ The US has maintained a naval blockade of Venezuela since mid-December 2025 to prevent the departure or arrival of sanctioned oil, with repeated interdictions and strikes reported during the operation.
⚔️ The US frequently cites “freedom of navigation” globally — but an open-ended blockade and long-range boardings to enforce unilateral sanctions raise sharp questions about whose rules are being imposed at sea.
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🟠 Iran-US indirect talks to take place in Geneva on Feb 17
🟠 Iran to US: want a nuclear deal? Stop the sanctions war
🟠 Russia liberates 12 settlements in just two weeks of February
🟠 Zelensky’s attack on Orban is cheap ploy that won’t bring Ukraine any closer to EU membership – expert
🟠 Fico offers Slovakia as mediator in Ukraine peace talks
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🇸🇰 Fico offers Slovakia as mediator in Ukraine peace talks
During a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Bratislava, Slovak PM also emphasized US President Trump’s pragmatic approach to the resolution of the Ukrainian conflict.
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🔊 Zelensky’s attack on Orban is cheap ploy that won’t bring Ukraine any closer to EU membership - expert
“Zelensky thinks he’s just winning easy points because the elite of the EU will be happy to see him taking swipes at Orban,” prolific commentator Dr. George Szamuely told Sputnik, commenting on Zelensky’s personal attack against Hungary’s PM at the Munich Security Conference, and Orban’s blistering response.