Slovakia and Hungary have expressed their intention to halt electricity supplies to Ukraine, citing energy security concerns and EU dependencies that take on new significance against the backdrop of the 1460th day of the full-scale war.
On Saturday, February 21, the Russian army carried out strikes against production facilities abroad: the American company Mondelez, located in Trostianets, Sumy Oblast, suffered a rocket strike. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga said this occurred on the territory of Mondelez’s production complex, one of the first large-scale American investment projects in Ukraine’s economy. Mondelez in Ukraine produces chocolate, cookies, and savory snacks, and the Trostianets chocolate factory is part of the project.
“This is not a military facility, but a plant that has been operating since the 1990s, producing world-renowned brands, providing jobs for Ukrainians and contributing to our economy and the American economy”
– Andriy Sibiga
The minister stressed that the incident underscores the threat to U.S. business interests in Europe and to the economic ties between Ukraine and Western partners, underscoring the importance of a stable energy and investment line between Ukraine and its international partners.
Consequences for Lviv and the response of the authorities
The mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi, said that, according to preliminary data, fourteen people were injured in a series of explosions in the city; they were taken to hospitals, and the events are being treated as a probable terrorist attack. There were also fatalities and injuries among law enforcement officers after patrol police units arrived at the scene. All relevant services are currently involved.
In the night of February 22 in Lviv, a blast occurred that was not accompanied by an air-raid warning; the sound of the event was heard in various districts of the city and beyond.
The operational management reports that Greece and Malta have expressed opposition to one of the provisions of the EU’s 20th sanctions package against Russia – a ban on providing services for transporting Russian oil and oil products. The president’s adviser on sanctions policy, Vladyslav Vlasyuk, explained that this provision, known in English as the Full Maritime Service Ban, faces opposition from both countries. He added that from the end of 2026 this mechanism could deprive Russia of at least $17 billion in oil revenue. Last year Moscow suffered significant losses due to the existing sanctions, underscoring the geopolitical complexity of the situation in Europe.
These events illustrate the complexity of Europe’s geopolitical map and emphasize the importance of a balanced approach to energy and economic policy amid a prolonged war. The 1460th day of the war highlights the long-lasting consequences of the conflict for the region and neighboring countries, which require careful monitoring and coordinated action.
Sanctions discussion and energy security
In the context of the EU’s sanctions policy, discussions again center on the impact on Russia’s oil revenues. Greece’s and Malta’s cautions emphasize the need to consider the interests of different countries in the European coalition, as well as to weigh the economic consequences for the region. Economic stability and energy security remain priorities for governments and international partners, as every step could influence the war’s trajectory and its post-war recovery.