Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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January 8, 2026 UN
The top news of the day at the UN and around the world: the UN regrets the US decision to withdraw from dozens of international organizations, large-scale airstrikes were carried out on Ukrainian cities overnight, the Security Council held a meeting on chemical weapons in Syria, and the UN released its global economic forecast for 2026.
US Memorandum
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed regret In connection with the United States' decision to withdraw from several United Nations entities, while emphasizing that the UN system will continue to fulfill all its mandated functions. In accordance with the UN Charter, contributions to the Organization's regular budget and peacekeeping budget are approved by the General Assembly and are considered mandatory for all Member States. For 2026, the General Assembly approved a budget of $3.45 billion, representing a sharp reduction compared to previous years.
Strikes against Ukraine
UN humanitarian agencies, citing local authorities, report that last night throughout Ukraine several civilians were killed and wounded, as well as damage to energy and port infrastructure. Nearly two million people were left without electricity. Heating, water supply, mobile phone service, and public transportation were disrupted. The mayor of Dnipro declared a state of emergency. In Kryvyi Rih, yesterday's strikes were reportedly among the largest combined attacks since the start of the full-scale war. Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine Matthias Schmale called for the protection of civilians amid the harsh winter weather.
Chemical weapons in Syria
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and Syria continue to cooperate on the issue elimination of any elements of the chemical weapons program, developed by the country's previous government. This was stated by Adedeji Eboh, Acting Head of the Office of Disarmament Affairs, at a meeting of the UN Security Council. He welcomed the progress made, while emphasizing the existence of serious obstacles. According to Eboh, it is now possible to obtain clarification regarding the full scope of Syria's chemical weapons program and finally eliminate the existing arsenal.
Economic Prospects
The global economy will grow in 2026. by 2.7 percent, which is slightly below the 2.8 percent estimate for 2025 and significantly below the pre-pandemic average of 3.2 percent, according to the United Nations' World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026 report released today. Last year, the global economy's unexpected resilience to the sharp rise in US tariffs, supported by stable consumer spending and moderating inflation, helped maintain growth. However, weak investment and limited fiscal space are holding back economic activity.
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