Our daily jaunt around the world

🇺🇦 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky paid surprise visits to the UK and France yesterday. Zelensky’s trip, which is set to conclude at a gathering of EU leaders in Brussels today, had the goal of securing military aid (specifically fighter jets) from the countries, and marks the second known instance of the Ukrainian president leaving his home country since Russia invaded last February. Ukrainian officials have said Moscow is currently preparing for a new large-scale offensive that could begin as soon as February 24 (the day after Russia celebrates a nationwide holiday in honor of its military).

🇬🇧🎮 The UK’s competition regulator said Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard harms domestic competition. In a decision published yesterday, UK officials said the takeover could lead to higher prices, fewer choices, and less innovation in the gaming industry. Regulators provided Microsoft with a list of possible solutions, which include selling off the business that runs Call of Duty, divesting the Activision half of newly-acquired Activision Blizzard, or terminating the deal altogether. The two companies have until Feb. 22 to respond, with the UK government’s final decision – which could ultimately block the sale – set for April 26.

🇷🇺 Russian President Vladimir Putin likely approved sending the missile system that shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, per a joint investigative report. After 8.5 years of researching the incident, experts from five different countries concluded there were “strong indications” that Putin personally approved the missile transfer to a Russian-backed separatist group that shot down the plane over Ukraine, killing all 298 people onboard. However, the investigative team said there wasn’t enough conclusive evidence to tie Putin directly to the crash, and also noted that heads of state are immune from prosecution under international law.

+Update: The death toll from a recent series of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria rose above 15,000 yesterday.