What's Coming Up Next Week in the World: 2026.02.22 to 2026.02.28

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast  https://www.restrictedhandling.com/  Get ready for a high-tempo, no-hype breakdown of the week ahead in global security. In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast's "What's Coming Up Next Week in the World," we walk you through the critical, time-bound geopolitical events shaping the next seven days — from Russia and Ukraine to China, the Middle East, and North Korea — plus the major U.S., EU, NATO, and UN meetings that could shift the strategic narrative. This is not prediction. This is orientation. We kick off with the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine — a date loaded with symbolism and political signaling. Expect European Parliament debate, high-visibility EU leader travel to Kyiv, and coordinated messaging designed to reinforce Western unity. We unpack what these anniversary moments really mean in terms of sanctions, security guarantees, and war financing — and what seasoned observers should actually watch for beneath the headlines. At the United Nations, the Security Council convenes on Ukraine and holds scheduled consultations on DPRK sanctions enforcement. That means Russia-West rhetorical sparring in New York and quiet maneuvering around North Korea's sanctions regime. Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Council opens a new session in Geneva — a forum where states stake out formal positions on Ukraine, Gaza, and China-related human rights issues. It's not flashy, but language matters — and diplomatic wording is often the first signal of shifting ground. In the Middle East, Israel's central bank issues a closely watched interest rate decision — a reminder that monetary policy and security risk are increasingly intertwined. Economic resilience is now a frontline issue. Over in Moscow, Russia marks Defender of the Fatherland Day — a patriotic holiday steeped in military symbolism. We explain how the Kremlin uses these dates to reinforce domestic narratives and project continuity stretching back to the Soviet era. We also cover IMF messaging on U.S. fiscal policy and global spillovers, Bank of Korea rate deliberations under the shadow of Pyongyang, and Russia's central bank transparency releases — all signals that financial policy and geopolitical strategy are now inseparable. And then there's the watchlist: potential EU sanctions developments, anticipated Ukraine aid deliveries, and the implications of North Korea's Party Congress — a five-year political event that could clarify military direction or elite reshuffling. If you follow geopolitics, international security, Russia-Ukraine war developments, China strategy, Middle East conflict dynamics, or North Korea's next move, this episode is your structured, strategic roadmap for the week ahead. 👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast  https://www.restrictedhandling.com/    Get the daily intelligence brief Ryan and Glenn read covering Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, the Middle East, geopolitics, sanctions, military and intel operations. Save a few hours of your time getting ahead of the news cycle at restrictedhandling.com.