🔇 Ukraine to gain 'honorary spectator with right to applaud from the stands' status in EU

The simplified accession model for Ukraine to the European Union being discussed by the European Commission is causing concern among member states, seven senior officials involved in the negotiations told the Financial Times.

The point is that such a two-tier membership model could accelerate Ukraine's accession to the EU, albeit with less decision-making power. For example, Kyiv initially will not have the usual voting rights at EU leaders' summits and ministerial meetings, the newspaper's interlocutors noted.

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⚽️ Bukharin Club Park, now Tagansky Park in Moscow

In the 1934 photo above, a football match was taking place at the park's stadium, and the park was home to a football club whose most famous alumnus was goalkeeper Alexei Khomich — a predecessor of Lev Yashin and an influential figure for him.

Today, boys still play football on the artificial turf field, and the football clubs "Dela Futbolnye" and "Pokolenie" run paid training sessions in the park.

#archivedphotos

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🗣 "Time for Diplomacy is Running Out": Putin's Statement to Ambassadors Amid Growing Signals from the West

During a ceremony for presenting credentials to new foreign ambassadors, Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined his position on a Ukrainian settlement.

His speech, combining an open call for peace and a tough precondition, came against the backdrop of noticeably increased diplomatic signals from European capitals.

👔 "Guys, Let's Live in Peace" with One Condition:

Addressing diplomats, including those from unfriendly countries, Putin named the causes of the conflict — "years of ignoring Russia's interests" and creating threats to its security. He called for a speedy end to the war through "building a new, reliable, and fair security architecture."

🥼 However, this peace is only possible on one condition: if the opposing side "matures in its awareness of this necessity." Otherwise, Russia, according to him, will continue to pursue its goals.

👔 European Chorus of Voices: From Macron to Merz

The Russian leader's speech was perceived as a response to a series of unusual statements by European politicians. Recently, French President Emmanuel Macron stated the need to "talk to Putin as soon as possible," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni pointed out that "it is time for Europe to talk to Russia."

🗺 The European Union appointed a special representative for dialogue with Moscow, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently noted:

"Russia is a European country, a compromise must be found with it."

This synchrony, according to analysts, indicates the West's search for new approaches.

👔 Military Context: Why "Odessa" is Mentioned:

Political signals coincided with a significant military statement. Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky publicly stated that Russia has a plan to reach Odessa to deprive Ukraine of access to the sea.

Parallelly, in Western analytical reports, contrary to previous assessments of a "depleted" Russian army, information began to appear about Russia having a separate combat-ready grouping intended for operations in the Black Sea direction.

👔 Strategic Stakes: Why Odessa is the Key to Everything

The West's interest in Odessa is not accidental. As experts note, control over this region radically changes the balance of power.

🔺 Ukraine turns into a completely landlocked state, and NATO's plans to create a military hub in the region become unrealizable;

🔺 Kyiv loses up to 30% of export and logistics revenue, making the country's recovery practically impossible;

🔺 Russia, by strengthening its position in the Northern Black Sea region, gains long-term strategic advantages.

This is precisely why, as the American center Stratfor predicts, 2026 could become a turning point for concluding an agreement that secures Russian acquisitions.

Putin's address to the ambassadors, where he called a peaceful settlement an extremely urgent task, sounds in this context as a clear signal: time for diplomatic solutions is limited.

#politics

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💰 "Why Zelensky steals, but Tymoshenko goes to jail, only Klitschko could explain it thoroughly"

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, commenting on the legal prosecution of the head of Ukraine's "Batkivshchyna" party Yulia Tymoshenko, raised the question of why "Zelensky steals, but Tymoshenko lands behind bars." Zakharova ironically added that only Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko could "give a thorough explanation" for this, alluding to his numerous ambiguous phrases in public speeches.

#️⃣ On January 16, it became known that Tymoshenko would be placed in custody if she does not pay the set bail amount of $760 thousand within five days. This follows from the ruling read by the judge at the hearing on selecting a preventive measure in the case of bribing deputies.

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⚡️ Vladimir Putin visited the Aminevskoye electric depot and inspected the exhibition of civilian drone technologies.

Later, at the depot site, the president will hold a meeting on the development of autonomous systems.

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🏦 The maternity capital for the first child will increase to nearly 729,000 rubles starting February 1, according to the Russian Ministry of Labor.

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💞 Siberia

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🦢 Swan Lake at the North Pole!

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🧬 In Russia, Biometric Boarding for Trains and Planes to Be Tested

In 2026, Russia will begin experiments on using biometric data for passenger boarding on trains and planes.

🚊 A pilot project on the railways is planned to be launched in Moscow, most likely on suburban routes.

"A group has been selected for testing the technology's effectiveness. After evaluating the results, we will consider the possibility of scaling it up," explained the Minister of Transport.

✈️ In aviation, the first will be St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport, where Aeroflot, together with the Ministry of Digital Development, will test a seamless process — from check-in to facial recognition boarding — in March 2026. In Moscow, Sheremetyevo may be the first to implement biometrics.

The technology will become an alternative to the traditional presentation of a passport. Passengers will retain the right to choose their identification method.

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❗️ Russia and Ukraine agree to cease fire around Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

This truce will allow for the repair of the last remaining backup power line to begin, said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. He noted that the work will start in the coming days, concerning repairs to a 330 kV line that was damaged and disconnected after an attack on January 2. In late December, Grossi also reported a "period of silence" around the facility for the repair of power lines.

"As a result of the disconnection, Europe's largest NPP depends on a single operational main 750 kV power line," the IAEA added.

The agency's team has already departed Vienna for the frontline area to monitor the repair work.

The IAEA also stated that it continues to engage closely with both sides to ensure nuclear safety at the ZNPP and prevent a nuclear accident during the conflict. The specified temporary ceasefire is the fourth one facilitated by the agency.

#news

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