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French President Emmanuel Macron’s top diplomat, Emmanuel Bonne, traveled to Moscow on Tuesday to meet with Russian officials, aiming to discuss key issues, with Ukraine at the forefront. According to sources familiar with the meeting, Bonne held talks at the Kremlin, though details of the discussions were not disclosed.
The French presidency declined to confirm or deny the meetings, emphasizing only that technical-level discussions were taking place in full transparency and in consultation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European partners. Diplomatic sources added that European allies had been informed of the initiative, and that Bonne met with Yuri Ushakov, a senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Macron has previously stressed the need for Europeans to re-establish direct dialogue with Putin if US-led efforts to broker a peace agreement falter. European leaders, cautious of Russia’s military intentions, have been frustrated at being sidelined in negotiations spearheaded by US President Donald Trump, limiting them to supporting Ukraine from the periphery.
Speaking to reporters, Macron confirmed that preparations are underway to resume discussions with Putin. He stressed the importance of Europeans restoring their own communication channels with Moscow, noting that these technical-level talks are part of that broader effort and are coordinated with Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made clear that Ukrainian society would categorically reject any peace agreement that requires Kyiv to unilaterally withdraw from Donbas and transfer control of the region to Russia
Ukrainian forces have recaptured 201 square kilometres of territory from Russian troops between 11 and 15 February, marking their fastest advance in over two and a half years.
US President Donald Trump said ahead of renewed trilateral negotiations in Geneva that Ukraine should join the talks without delay, warning that Kyiv “better come to the table fast.”
Civilian casualties in Ukraine rose sharply during 2025, with the impact of bombings and missile strikes increasing by 26% compared to the previous year.
Independent labs in five European countries have confirmed that Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny was poisoned with a rare neurotoxin
The Kremlin has confirmed that the next round of peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine will take place on February 17–18 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Financier Levon Hampartzumyan has forecast a gradual rise in loan interest rates in Bulgaria, noting that current levels are historically very low and cannot be sustained indefinitely.
The withdrawal of lev banknotes and coins is continuing in line with the approved schedule, although the pace of the process is expected to ease in the coming period
Bulgaria has officially launched the 2026 tax campaign for income earned in 2025, and early results show strong public engagement.
The latest data from the Bulgarian National Bank reveal a striking growth in large household deposits by the end of December 2025.
Bulgaria’s economy continued to show steady momentum throughout 2025, placing the country among the fastest-growing economies in the European Union, according to data presented by the Ministry of Economy and Industry
Revenue from overnight stays in Bulgaria continued to rise at a solid pace at the end of 2025, with hotel income in December increasing by 12.5 percent on an annual basis
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