Drones Spotted Near Zelenskiy’s Flight Path in Ireland Trigger Security Alert 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
Australia Progresses AUKUS Review as U.S. Affirms Strong Support 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth Defends Controversial Second Strike on Suspected Drug-Smuggling Vessel 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting With New Focus on Free Speech and Censorship 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
U.S. Repatriation Flight Carrying 266 Venezuelan Migrants Lands in Caracas 
Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
Honduras Election Turmoil Intensifies as Nasralla Blames Trump for Shift in Results 
German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin is ready to authorize transfers of Leopard tanks by Poland to Ukraine. The comments come as Berlin is under pressure from Kyiv and allies to deliver the tanks that would be used in the war effort.
Speaking after the Franco-German Summit on Sunday in Paris, Baerbock was pressed on whether Germany would authorize Poland and other countries who seek to transfer some of its Leopard tanks to Ukraine. Baerbock said that Berlin is ready to authorize Poland’s transfer should Warsaw make a request.
“If we are asked the question, then we will not stand in the way,” Baerbock told LCI Television. “We know how important these tanks are and this is why we are discussing this now with our partners. We need to make sure people’s lives are saved and Ukraine’s territory liberated.”
Baerbock’s comments appear to suggest that Berlin was ready to authorize other countries who are looking to transfer their German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine. Under the licensing agreement, countries cannot send German-made tanks without Berlin’s approval.
Poland announced that it was ready to send Ukraine 14 of its Leopard tanks, deemed the most suitable in the ongoing war. However, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Sunday that he was waiting for Germany to make a “clear statement” on whether countries that have Leopard tanks can transfer them to Ukraine.
Morawiecki also criticized Germany’s refusal so far to send its own tanks to Ukraine.
On Saturday, the foreign ministers of the three Baltic countries, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, all urged Germany to provide Ukraine with Leopard tanks as soon as possible.
On Monday, in a downgrading of relations, Estonia and Russia expelled each other’s ambassadors, saying that their respective diplomatic missions would be led by the charge d’affaires in a tit-for-tat move in light of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The move has since prompted Latvia to announce that it will downgrade relations with Russia by February 24, the date that will mark the one-year anniversary since Russia started the war.
The Russian foreign ministry said it was expelling the Estonian ambassador, accusing Estonia of “Russophobia” and that its leaders “destroyed the entire range of relations with Russia.”
Estonian foreign minister Urmas Reinsalu said the departure of the Russian ambassador in Estonia would take place at the same time as the departure of the Estonian ambassador in Russia in accordance with the “principle of parity.”
