Around 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in battle in the four years of war, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky says.
“In Ukraine, officially the number of soldiers killed on the battlefield - either professionals or those conscripted - is 55,000,” he told France 2 TV.
Russia has warned Ukraine it will not stop fighting until Kyiv makes what the Kremlin considers the right “decisions” to end the conflict.
Talks in Abu Dhabi between US, Ukrainian and Russian delegations are set to continue on Thursday.
But despite reports that the discussions were constructive, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russian troops would continue to fight until Kyiv made the “right decisions”.
Moscow wants Kyiv to pull its troops out of the embattled Donetsk region – including a belt of highly fortified cities regarded as one of Ukraine’s strongest defences – effectively forfeiting the territory.
Shortly before the talks began, Russian forces hit a crowded market in eastern Ukraine with cluster munitions. At least seven people were killed and 15 wounded, according to Donetsk governor Vadym Filashkin.
Russia fires 450 drones and 70 missiles at Ukraine, a day before US-brokered talks
Ukraine peace deal must put people before land, warns key Zelensky ally
Ukraine lambasts ‘infantile and irresponsible’ Gianni Infantino for trying to overturn Russia ban
Russia suffers heaviest losses since WWII as casualties in Ukraine conflict near 2 million
Key Points
- Toll of Ukrainian soldiers killed hits 55,000 – Zelensky
- Putin 'kept his word': Trump reacts after Russia resumes strikes
- Trump and Xi discuss Ukraine in phone call
- What's on the agenda for the second round of trilateral peace talks?
- Russia-France talks under way ahead of possible Macron-Putin meeting
- 'Fierce and particularly depraved': Starmer discusses latest Russian strikes with Trump
UN chief says end of Russia-US nuclear treaty marks 'grave moment'
04:26 , Arpan RaiUnited Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres called the expiration of the New START Treaty a grave moment for international peace and security and urged Russia and the United States to negotiate a new nuclear arms control framework without delay.
New START, which was due to run out at midnight on Wednesday, capped the number of strategic nuclear warheads that the United States and Russia can deploy, and the deployment of land – and submarine-based missiles and bombers to deliver them.
"For the first time in more than half a century, we face a world without any binding limits on the strategic nuclear arsenals of the Russian Federation and the United States of America – the two States that possess the overwhelming majority of the global stockpile of nuclear weapons," Guterres said in a statement.
He said the dissolution of decades of achievement in arms control "could not come at a worse time – the risk of a nuclear weapon being used is the highest in decades”.
At the same time, Guterres said there was now an opportunity "to reset and create an arms control regime fit for a rapidly evolving context" and welcomed the appreciation by the leaders of both Russia and the United States of the need to prevent a return to a world of unchecked nuclear proliferation.
"The world now looks to the Russian Federation and the United States to translate words into action," Guterres said.
“I urge both states to return to the negotiating table without delay and to agree upon a successor framework that restores verifiable limits, reduces risks, and strengthens our common security."
Putin exploiting Europe's oil tankers, says Zelensky
04:14 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised Europe for lax regulation of oil tankers that he says Russia is exploiting to continue to trade and fund its war.
Last year, he said, Russia involved more than 122 vessels in its oil trade that are operated or legally owned by European entities.
“This constitutes a significant portion of Russia’s tanker fleet,” he said in his nightly address.
“Europe must act far more decisively to counter Russia’s tanker fleet.”
Unfortunately, the Russians continue to exploit various jurisdictions around the world, operating under different corporate covers. They are exploiting Europe as well—and this is extremely serious.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 4, 2026
In 2025 alone, Russia involved more than 122 vessels in its oil trade that are… pic.twitter.com/FpRDbIQIDd
Watch: Zelensky anticipates 'significant step' from US-backed trilateral meeting
04:08 , Arpan RaiUkrainians escape death and flee from southeast as Russia lurches forward
03:53 , Arpan RaiFighting has intensified in recent weeks in key areas of the southeastern front, Ukraine's military has said, particularly around the town of Huliaipole – 40km (25 miles) to the east of Tavriiske.
In Tavriiske and nearby villages, which sit in a bulge in the frontline with Russian forces on three sides, residents told Reuters during a recent visit that they feared for their lives amid the constant threat of drone and bomb attacks.
In the last few weeks, buses have stopped running to the village of Tavriiske in southeast Ukraine from the major city of Zaporizhzhia, some 50km (31 miles) away.
As the war with Russia has drawn nearer, the village is slowly emptying. Maryna Vyshnevska, 35, said it had become too dangerous for her and her five children – some of the few remaining residents – to stay.
"We thought they (the Russians) would be driven back and all this would stop," Vyshnevska said, before packing her family and a handful of belongings into a police evacuation bus. "But when we realised it would only get worse and worse, it was better to leave,” she said.
Watch: Top Kremlin official’s chilling nuclear warning
03:50 , Jane Dalton
Top Kremlin official’s chilling nuclear warning as treaty due to expire
Russian shelling on market kills seven in Ukraine-controlled Donetsk
03:29 , Arpan RaiAt least seven people were killed and eight more hurt in Russian attacks in the town of Druzhkivka in the Ukraine-controlled frontline region of Donetsk in the east, the regional governor said.
Russia shelled the town with cluster munitions, targeting the market, and dropped two aerial bombs, Vadym Filashkin said his Telegram channel.
Filashkin said the town located about 11 miles from the frontline was struck directly at a busy morning market.
“This is another targeted war crime and further proof that all Russian statements about a ‘truce’ are worthless,” Filashkin wrote.
EU envoys agree details of €90bn loan for Ukraine
03:14 , Arpan RaiEuropean Union ambassadors have approved details of a €90bn (£77bn) loan for Ukraine, an initiative agreed by EU leaders in December to meet most of Kyiv's financial needs in 2026-2027 and keep up its fight against Russia's invasion.
The ambassadors reached the agreement at a closed-door meeting in Brussels yesterday, diplomats said.
The text of the agreement was not immediately available but the Council of the EU said in a statement that two thirds of the funds would be spent on military aid and one third on general budget support.
On military aid, the deal stipulates that Kyiv should use the loan primarily to buy weapons from Ukraine or the EU but could buy from other countries if certain conditions are met.
"Defence products should in principle only be procured from companies in the EU, Ukraine, or EEA-EFTA countries. Should Ukraine’s military needs require the urgent delivery of a defence product which happens not to be available in the EU, Ukraine or an EEA-EFTA country, a set of targeted derogations would apply," the Council said.
The agreement also requires approval by the European Parliament, which diplomats said they hoped would come soon to allow the Commission to start borrowing on the markets and make a first payment to Ukraine in early April.
EU leaders agreed in December to fund the loan through EU borrowing rather than back a plan to use Russian assets frozen in the bloc.
Ukraine and Russia end first day of peace talks, call it 'productive'
02:50 , Arpan RaiUkrainian and Russian officials wrapped up a "productive" first day of new US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi, Kyiv's lead negotiator said.
The two-day trilateral meeting comes after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had exploited a US-backed energy truce last week to stockpile munitions, attacking Ukraine with a record number of ballistic missiles on Tuesday.
“The work was substantive and productive, focused on concrete steps and practical solutions," Rustem Umerov, the head of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, wrote on X.
A US official, who offered comment on condition of anonymity, also called the talks productive and said they would continue on Thursday morning.
Comedian jailed for over five years for 'legless veteran' joke
02:30 , Jane DaltonA Russian stand-up comedian has been convicted of inciting hatred and jailed for nearly six years over a joke he made about a legless war veteran, which triggered outrage among nationalists and military bloggers.
Artemy Ostanin was handed a sentence of five years and nine months and a fine of 300,000 roubles ($3,908).
Ostanin was also convicted of offending the feelings of Christians with another off-colour joke he made about Jesus, which angered Orthodox nationalists.
Trump praises Putin for ‘keeping his word’ despite huge attack
01:00 , Jane Dalton
Trump praises Putin for ‘keeping his word’ despite huge attack on Ukraine
Russia exploited energy truce to stockpile munitions – Zelensky
23:59 , Jane DaltonUkraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia exploited a US-backed energy truce last week to stockpile munitions, attacking Ukraine with a record number of ballistic missiles on Tuesday.
Mr Zelensky said it was critical for the talks to lead to real peace and not offer Russia a new opportunity to continue the war. Ukraine's partners, he said, had to exert more pressure on Moscow.
"It must be felt now. People in Ukraine must feel that the situation is genuinely moving toward peace and the end of the war, not toward Russia using everything to its advantage and continuing attacks," he said.
He also said Ukraine expected the talks to lead to a new prisoner exchange soon.
Lavrov says Zelensky does not want peace deal as it would mean the end of his career
23:00 , Alex CroftRussian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday accused Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky of not wanting to seal a peace deal as it would mean the end of his political career, Russia's state RIA news agency reported.
Mr Zelensky has said he does want a deal, but is not willing to agree to Russian terms that he says amount to surrendering and is not ready to gift Moscow territory which its army has not won on the battlefield.
A US-Russia nuclear treaty expires today – risking a new arms race
22:00 , Alex CroftThe last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the United States, known as New START, is poised to lapse on Thursday, potentially removing all restrictions on the world's two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in over half a century. This impending termination of the treaty has sparked fears of an unconstrained nuclear arms race.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed a willingness to adhere to the treaty's limits for another year, provided Washington agrees to do the same. However, President Donald Trump has remained noncommittal regarding an extension.
A White House official, speaking anonymously on Monday due to not being authorised to comment publicly, stated that Mr Trump has consistently indicated a desire to maintain limits on nuclear weapons and to include China in future arms control discussions. The official added that President Trump would make a decision on nuclear arms control "on his own timeline."
Here is a guide to the treaty and why it matters.
Mark Trevelyan reports:
The last remaining US-Russia nuclear treaty expires today – risking a new arms race
Toll of Ukrainian soldiers killed hits 55,000, Zelensky says
21:02 , Jane DaltonThe number of Ukrainian soldiers killed on the battlefield as a result of the war with Russia is estimated at 55,000, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky says.
He told France 2 TV: "In Ukraine, officially the number of soldiers killed on the battlefield - either professionals or those conscripted - is 55,000.”
Mr Zelensky, whose comments were translated into French, added that on top of that casualties figure was a large number of people considered as officially missing.
Russia launches 105 drones and hits 14 locations in overnight air attack - ICYMI
21:00 , Alex CroftIn its daily update on Russian overnight air attacks earlier, the Ukrainian air force said Moscow’s forces had launched 105 Shahed, Gerbera and Italmas drones overnight since Tuesday, adding that 88 of which were downed by Ukrainian air defences.
The attack was still ongoing as of 8am local time (6am GMT).
“Hits by 17 UAVs had been recorded at 14 locations and the fall of downed aerial assets (debris) at 5 locations” across the country’s north, south and east, it added in the update on Telegram.
Drones were launched from the Russian cities of Oryol, Bryansk and Primorsko-Akhtarsk, and from occupied Donetsk and Crimea.
Xi and Putin hail relationship in video call on Wednesday
20:02 , Alex CroftChina's president Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin both hailed their ties during a video call on Wednesday held in the run-up to the fourth anniversary of Moscow's war in Ukraine.
Putin said the Moscow-Beijing relationship was an important stabilising factor at a time of growing global turbulence, in a Russian state television broadcast of the talks.
Xi, speaking via an interpreter, called for the countries to work out a "grand plan" to further bilateral relations which he said were advancing in the right direction.
He said China-Russia ties had "withstood international turbulence" and pledged to coordinate with Moscow on issues concerning their core interests.
China and Russia declared a "no limits" strategic partnership days before Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.
Since then, China has emerged as an economic lifeline for Russia by stepping up trade with the northern neighbour while Western powers piled sanctions on Moscow.
Where is the frontline in Ukraine?
19:00 , Alex CroftRussian stand-up comedian jailed for six years after joke about legless war veteran
18:01 , Alex CroftReuters news agency is reporting that a Russian stand-up comedian was convicted of inciting hatred and jailed for nearly six years on Wednesday over a joke he made about a legless war veteran, which triggered outrage among nationalists and military bloggers.
A reporter in court said that the comedian, Artemy Ostanin, had been handed a sentence of five years and nine months and a fine of 300,000 roubles ($3,908).
It was the latest in a series of rulings which have harshly punished people judged by the authorities to have spoken rudely or falsely about the Russian army at a time when it is fighting in Ukraine.
Mr Ostanin was also convicted of offending the feelings of Christians with another off-colour joke he made about Jesus, which angered Orthodox nationalists.
Mr Ostanin, who had apologised to anyone whose feelings he had hurt, denied wrongdoing and said that the joke he made about the war veteran had made no mention of the conflict in Ukraine.
Moscow's deficit could triple due to declining Indian oil purchases - report
17:29 , Alex CroftRussia's public deficit could hit almost triple the intended target by the end of the year as a fall in Indian purchases of oil and growing oil trade discounts eat into revenues, a source close to the government told Reuters news agency.
Spending may also be higher than expected, contributing to the issue, it added.
The source cited calculations by economists from a government-linked think tank, which are not set to be published, but are the latest sign of growing strains on a Russian economy facing sanctions, high interest rates and labour shortages.
The calculations showed a possible fall in energy revenues by 18 per cent in 2026 compared to the government's plan, along with a possible rise in spending by between 4.1 per cent and 8.4 per cent.
Total budget revenues are expected to fall by 6 per cent from the plan to 37.9 trillion roubles ($494.78 billion).
"The budget situation is sharply deteriorating. Revenues will be lower and expenditures higher," the source said.
Pope Leo urges Russian and US leaders to renew New Start
17:01 , Alex CroftPope Leo urged Russian and US leaders to renew their last arms control treaty, New START, which caps the number of strategic nuclear weapons deployed by each country.
Leo, the first US pope, said during his weekly audience at the Vatican that the current world situation "calls for doing everything possible to avert a new arms race."
"I issue an urgent appeal not to let this instrument lapse," said the pope. "It is more urgent than ever to replace the logic of fear and distrust with a shared ethic, capable of guiding choices toward the common good."
In pictures: First day of US-brokered peace talks end
16:45 , Maira Butt
US-brokered talks 'productive' says Ukraine's top negotiator
16:43 , Maira ButtRustem Umerov, Ukraine’s top negotiator in trilateral peace talks involving Russia and the US, said that the first day of meetings in Abu Dhabi were "substantive and productive".
“The work was substantive and productive, focusing on concrete steps and practical solutions,” Umerov wrote on Telegram.
Trilateral talks end for a second day as Russia says Kyiv must give in
16:38 , Maira ButtTwo-day trilateral meetings took place in Abu Dhabi and are set to continue on Thursday as US-brokered negotiations desperately seek to end the nearly four-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law led the US delegation while Ukraine was represented by Rustem Umerov and Russia by military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov.
However, despite reports that the discussions were constructive, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that Russian troops would continue to fight until Kyiv made the right “decisions”.
Russia will act carefully and responsibly after New START treaty expires, says Kremlin aide
16:31 , Alex CroftRussia will act carefully and responsibly following the expiry of the New START treaty with the US that limits the size of both countries' strategic nuclear arsenals, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.
The treaty, signed in 2010, expires at the end of Wednesday.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova earlier said that Moscow would publish a document on Wednesday explaining its position on the expiry of the treaty.
"We made sure it includes answers to the many questions that have been received," Zakharova said.
Zelensky accuses Russia of violating Trump-brokered truce after overnight strikes
16:00 , Alex CroftTrump and Xi discuss Ukraine in phone call
15:47 , Alex CroftChinese president Xi Jinping held phone talks with US president Donald Trump on Wednesday, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
Trump, who said he has an extremely good personal relationship with Xi, said the pair discussed the Russia-Ukraine war, as well as several other topics including Taiwan, Iran, and the purchase of oil and gas from China by the US.
The Kremlin had advance warning of the call, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said according to Interfax news agency, which came after Vladimir Putin also spoke to Xi on Wednesday.
Russia seizes control of two villages in eastern Ukraine, defence ministry says
15:44 , Alex CroftMoscow’s defence ministry has claimed its forces have seized control of the settlements of Staroukrainka and Stepanivka in eastern Ukraine, state-run TASS news agency reported.
The Independent was not able to verify the battlefield report.
EU ambassadors agree details for 90bn Ukraine loan
15:29 , Alex CroftEuropean Union ambassadors on Wednesday approved details of a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine, agreed by EU leaders in December to meet most of Kyiv's financial needs for the next years and keep up its fight against Russia's invasion.
The ambassadors reached the agreement at a closed-door meeting in Brussels, several diplomats told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The conditions of the loan haven’t yet been publicised, but we’ll bring you any further details here on our live page.
At least 7 killed in cluster munitions attack on Donetsk town
14:59 , Alex CroftAt least seven people were killed and eight more hurt in Russian attacks in the town of Druzhkivka in the Ukraine-controlled frontline region of Donetsk in the east, the regional governor said on Wednesday.
Russia shelled the town with cluster munitions, targeting the market, and dropped two aerial bombs, Vadym Filashkin said on the Telegram messaging app.
There was no immediate comment from Russia on the attacks. Both Moscow and Kyiv deny they are targeting civilians in the war that started with Russia's invasion in 2022.
Cluster munitions are internationally banned under the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, but key nations including Russia, Ukraine and the US are not party to the convention.
Pictured: Ukrainian, Russian and US delegations in Abu Dhabi
14:38 , Alex Croft
Russia has attacked Ukraine's energy system 217 in 2026, says Ukrainian PM
14:30 , Alex CroftRussia attacked Ukraine's energy system 217 times since the start of 2026, Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on Wednesday.
"Overall, only since the beginning of this year 217 Russian attacks on our energy sector have been recorded," Ms Svyrydenko said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.
She added that “energy workers, utility workers, and railway workers continue to eliminate the consequences of massive shelling of energy infrastructure”.
Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have been relentless in 2026, while the country has been in the grip of its coldest winter in years.
Full report: Russia and Ukraine envoys meet in Abu Dhabi for US-brokered talks
13:52 , Alex CroftEnvoys from Russia and Ukraine met in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday for another round of U.S.-brokered talks on ending the almost four-year war, a Ukrainian negotiator said.
The delegations from Moscow and Kyiv were joined in the United Arab Emirates by U.S. officials, Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council chief, who was present at the meeting, said on social media.
Umerov said the planned two-day talks started with all three delegations present, after which negotiators were to break into groups according to topics and then meet as a full group again at the end.
The American team was due to include special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who also attended last month’s meeting, according to the White House.
Read more here:
Russia and Ukraine envoys meet in Abu Dhabi for US-brokered talks
Xi and Putin hail relationship in video call on Wednesday
13:30 , Alex CroftChina's president Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin both hailed their ties during a video call on Wednesday held in the run-up to the fourth anniversary of Moscow's war in Ukraine.
Putin said the Moscow-Beijing relationship was an important stabilising factor at a time of growing global turbulence, in a Russian state television broadcast of the talks.
Xi, speaking via an interpreter, called for the countries to work out a "grand plan" to further bilateral relations which he said were advancing in the right direction.
He said China-Russia ties had "withstood international turbulence" and pledged to coordinate with Moscow on issues concerning their core interests.
China and Russia declared a "no limits" strategic partnership days before Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.
Since then, China has emerged as an economic lifeline for Russia by stepping up trade with the northern neighbour while Western powers piled sanctions on Moscow.
Low-level Russia-France talks underway ahead of possible Macron-Putin meeting
13:09 , Alex CroftThe Kremlin said on Wednesday that working level talks between Russia and France were under way, ahead of a possible meeting between Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was nothing to announce for now when it came to the possibly meeting of the presidents.
The French leader said on Tuesday that he was looking at resuming contact with Putin on the war in Ukraine even though he saw little readiness from Moscow to negotiate a ceasefire and that discussions were taking place at a technical level.
Putin abusing ceasefire talks to attack Ukrainian infrastructure, says EU
13:07 , Alex CroftVladimir Putin is abusing the ceasefire talks to attack civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, a spokesperson of the European Commission said on Wednesday.
Ms Hipper told reporters that the Russian president can “end this war right now”.
She added: "He doesn't show any signs of wanting to do so. He misuses even the discussions on the ceasefire to continuously attack the civilian infrastructure and kill innocent people".
Ukraine lambasts ‘infantile and irresponsible’ Gianni Infantino for trying to overturn Russia ban
12:48 , Alex CroftUkraine’s sports minister has branded Fifa president Gianni Infantino “infantile” and “irresponsible” for his desire to overturn Russia’s ban from world football.
Fifa’s ruling executive and European football’s governing body Uefa imposed a global ban on Russia at the start of the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when other European nations said they would refuse to play or host Russia’s matches.
Four years later, Vladimir Putin shows no signs of backing down and the war is still raging, but Infantino has signalled his intention to bring Russia back into the fold, saying the ban has been a failure.
“We have to [look at readmitting Russia]. Definitely,” Infantino told Sky Sports. “This ban has not achieved anything; it has just created more frustration and hatred.
“Having girls and boys from Russia being able to play football games in other parts of Europe would help.”
Our sport live editor Luke Baker writes:
Ukraine lambasts ‘infantile’ Gianni Infantino for trying to overturn Russia ban
Kyiv says it is seeking to understand US and Russia's 'real intentions' in Abu Dhabi
12:29 , Alex CroftWe’re hearing more from Ukraine’s foreign ministry spokeswoman, who was speaking as talks in Abu Dhabi got underway.
Recent mass Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure will hinder peace talks, they told a news briefing on Wednesday.
Kyiv is seeking to understand what Moscow’s and Washington’s “real intentions” are regarding the talks in Abu Dhabi, she added.
In pictures: Damage in Odesa following Russian drone strikes
11:50 , Alex Croft
Ongoing trilateral peace talks focussing on military matters, says Kyiv
11:32 , Alex CroftThe latest round of trilateral peace talks between Kyiv, Moscow and Washington will focus on military matters, Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on Wednesday, without clarifying exactly what this entails.
Tykhyi said Ukraine wanted to hear feedback from the Russian delegation about issues discussed in previous talks, and that Kyiv wanted to understand what Moscow and Washington are "really ready for".
Russia faces steep drop in oil income if India stops importing Russian crude
11:15 , Alex CroftRussia faces a steep drop in oil income if Donald Trump successfully pressures India to stop importing Russian crude, analysts and traders have told Reuters new agency.
This will take place because losing its top purchaser of sea exports would force Moscow to slash prices to find other buyers.
Trump on Monday cut US tariffs on Indian goods in a trade deal he said also included provisions for India to halt oil imports from Russia, the world's second-biggest oil exporter.
The US president had already claimed over the past year that Indian prime minister Narendra Modi agreed to stop buying Russian oil.
India never halted imports, however, citing its need for energy security and for cheap oil. The Kremlin says energy cooperation with India, its second largest oil buyer after China, is strong after Russian president Vladimir Putin visited the country in December 2025.
Ukraine receives first delivery of US LNG in 2026
10:56 , Alex CroftUkraine's state-owned oil and gas major Naftogaz said on Wednesday that it has received delivery of almost 100 million cubic metres of US LNG, the first such delivery in 2026.
In a statement on the company's website, Naftogaz said the LNG was delivered in partnership with Poland's Orlen, and that further deliveries were expected in February or March.
Kremlin says Russia will keep fighting until Kyiv makes 'decisions' to end war
10:55 , Alex CroftKremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that Russian troops would keep fighting in Ukraine until Kyiv made "decisions" that could bring the war to an end.
Russia's position remains unchanged, which is known to both Ukrainian and US negotiators, Peskov said. A new round of peace talks began in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
Ukraine rejects Russia's demand that it cede the remainder of its Donbas region, land that Moscow's forces have not captured in four years of fighting.
Breaking: Ukraine-Russia-US talks begin in Abu Dhabi
10:16 , Alex CroftThe second round of Ukraine-Russia-US talks have begun in Abu Dhabi, Ukraine’s top negotiator has said.
The two-day trilateral meetings come after president Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia had exploited a US-backed energy truce last week to stockpile munitions, attacking Ukraine with a record number of ballistic missiles on Tuesday.
Ukrainian peace negotiators arrive in Abu Dhabi ahead of talks
10:05 , Alex CroftUkraine's peace negotiators have arrived in Abu Dhabi and started their first meetings, Interfax-Ukraine reported on Wednesday citing an unnamed source.
Stay with us throughout the day as we bring you all the latest lines on the second round of trilateral peace talks.
What's on the agenda for the second round of trilateral peace talks?
09:47 , Alex CroftAs we have been reporting, the second round of peace talks between Ukraine, Russia and the US is scheduled to begin in Abu Dhabi today.
The talks have been confirmed by officials in Washington, Kyiv and Moscow.
On the agenda remains one critical sticking points which has so far prevented a peace deal: territory.
Specifically, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators have been unable to come to an agreement over the future of Donetsk.
Russian forces currently control roughly three quarters of the territory of the Donetsk region, and almost all of the Luhansk region - the two regions making up the Donbas. Vladimir Putin and his Kremlin aides have been clear in their desire to control the entirety of the Donbas.
But this would mean Kyiv ceding ground which it currently controls in Donetsk. Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly ruled this out, and Ukrainian officials do not see a reason to give up any land which Russia has not seized by force.
But Russia, as it continues to pound Ukrainian cities and make marginal gains on the frontline, has said it will not budge on this critical demand.
In pictures: Blackouts continue in Ukraine amid Russian attacks on energy infrastructure
09:19 , Alex Croft
One killed and 24 injured in Russian attacks
08:51 , Alex CroftOne person was killed and eight were injured in Russian attacks on the Sumy, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Kherson regions, various Ukrainian authorities said on Wednesday.
In Sumy, where 32 villages came under fire by Russian drones on Tuesday, a 40-year-old man was killed and three others were injured.
The attack also caused damage to six apartment buildings, 13 houses, seven cars and other local infrastructure, Ukrainian police said according to Ukrainska Pravda.
Vadym Filashkin, the chief of the Donetsk military administration, said one person had been injured in the Donetsk region.
In Kherson, four people were injured and several buildings suffered damage.
The city of Kharkiv, along with 11 villages in the surrounding region, also came under Russian attack, with around 16 people reported injured, military administration chief Oleh Syniehubov said.
Power plant near Kyiv severely damaged, says Ukraine's energy minister
08:45 , Alex CroftUkrainian energy minister Denys Shmyhal has said that a power plant in Kyiv's eastern suburbs had been seriously damaged in overnight Russian attacks, prompting officials to redirect resources to restoring heating to thousands of residents.
Shmyhal, writing on Telegram after a meeting devoted to energy issues, said the plant in Darnytskyi had been used strictly for providing heating for people and was heavily damaged. "This is a war crime by Russia."
Shmyhal described the problems facing Ukraine's energy system as serious and said repairs would take "a considerable time."
"Given the critical situation, the meeting discussed urgent ways to stabilise the situation," he wrote.
"A redistribution is being carried out of repair crews and equipment ... and we are considering options for redirecting reserve heating supplies to buildings subject to longer outages."
The last US-Russian nuclear pact is about to expire, ending a half-century of arms control
08:13 , Alex CroftThe last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the United States is set to expire Thursday, removing any caps on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than a half-century.
The termination of the New START Treaty would set the stage for what many fear could be an unconstrained nuclear arms race.
Russian president Vladimir Putin declared readiness to stick to the treaty’s limits for another year if Washington follows suit, but President Donald Trump has been noncommittal about extending it.
Trump has repeatedly indicated he would like to keep limits on nuclear weapons and involve China in arms control talks, a White House official who was not authorized to talk publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity said Monday. Trump will make a decision on nuclear arms control “on his own timeline,” the official said.
Read more here:
The last US-Russian nuclear pact is about to expire, ending a half-century of arms control
Watch: Zelensky accuses Russia of violating Trump-brokered truce
07:39 , Arpan RaiKyiv power plant badly damaged, says Ukrainian energy minister
07:25 , Arpan RaiA power plant in Kyiv's eastern suburbs has been seriously damaged in overnight Russian attacks, prompting officials to redirect resources to restoring heating to thousands of residents, Ukraine’s energy minister Denys Shmyhal said.
Shmyhal, writing on Telegram after a meeting devoted to energy issues, said the plant in Darnytskyi had been used strictly for providing heating for people and was heavily damaged.
He described the problems facing Ukraine's energy system as serious and said repairs would take "a considerable time."
"This is a war crime by Russia”.
"Given the critical situation, the meeting discussed urgent ways to stabilise the situation," he wrote.
"A redistribution is being carried out of repair crews and equipment... and we are considering options for redirecting reserve heating supplies to buildings subject to longer outages,” he said.
Ukraine to adjust negotiations after Russia's record missile attack, Zelensky says
07:15 , Arpan RaiThe work of Ukraine's negotiating team will be adjusted after Russia's overnight attack on Ukrainian energy facilities, which involved a record number of ballistic missiles, Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday.
"It was a deliberate attack against energy infrastructure, involving a record number of ballistic missiles," Mr Zelensky said.
"The Russian army exploited the US proposal to briefly halt strikes not to support diplomacy, but to stockpile missiles and wait until the coldest days of the year, when temperatures across large parts of Ukraine drop below -20°C (-4°F)."
The next round of peace talks with Russian and US officials is due to start today in Abu Dhabi.
Nato chief says Ukraine ready for peace but Russia ‘creating chaos’ with attacks
07:01 , Arpan RaiNato secretary general Mark Rutte has said Ukraine is doing everything necessary to prepare the ground for a peace deal, a process Russia risks jeopardising with its massive airstrikes on Ukrainian cities.
Rutte visited Kyiv on Tuesday for meetings with Ukrainian officials, including president Volodymyr Zelensky, and arrived just hours after Moscow launched one of its biggest aerial attacks of the war so far.
Rutte said while Ukraine is ready “to play ball” and come to a deal with the Russian side, the huge attack was a “really bad signal” of Vladimir Putin's intentions ahead of peace talks this week.
Rutte said Russia’s full-scale invasion was “crazy” and said its continuing assault on Ukraine is targeting civilian infrastructure, creating “chaos” for innocent civilians.
'Fierce and particularly depraved': Starmer discusses latest Russian strikes with Trump
06:25 , Arpan RaiPrime minister Keir Starmer spoke to US president Donald Trump and the two leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine, including the overnight attacks from Russian forces, 10 Downing Street said.
“The leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine, including the barbaric Russian attacks on the country overnight. Putin’s fierce attacks on critical national infrastructure, including energy systems, were particularly depraved as temperatures dropped below -20C,” the statement from the PM’s office said.
The leaders also recognised the strategic importance of the US-UK military base Diego Garcia, the government added.
“The leaders agreed their governments would continue working closely to guarantee the future operation of the base and speak again soon.”
Russia's northern fleet undiminished by war, warns senior UK Navy officer
06:10 , Arpan RaiGeneral Gwyn Jenkins, the Royal Navy's First Sea Lord, has warned that Russia is maintaining its high level of spending on its Northern Fleet in spite of its losses in Ukraine, thereby posing an ongoing threat to Western powers.
“Russian investment in their Northern Fleet, and in particular, in their subsurface capabilities, is undiminished," Gen Jenkins told a naval conference in Paris.
“So despite the horrendous cost in terms of national resource and blood to Russia, of their egregious invasion of Ukraine, they have continued to pump resource into their Northern Fleet and their subsurface capabilities," he added.
Trump says Putin 'kept his word' after Kyiv hit by worst attack this year
05:50 , Arpan RaiDonald Trump has said his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin “kept his word” and obeyed his request for a temporary pause on attacks against major Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure.
“(The pause) was for Sunday to Sunday," the US president said, speaking to reporters at the White House yesterday. "It opened up and (Putin) hit them hard... He kept his word on that. One week is a lot — we will take anything,” he said.
Asked if he was disappointed, Trump replied: "I want him to end the war”.
Trump was responding to a question about Russia’s attack on Ukraine yesterday which knocked out heating in cities, including the capital Kyiv, during freezing temperatures, even as Ukrainian negotiators headed to Abu Dhabi for a second round of US-brokered trilateral talks set for Wednesday and Thursday.
Ukraine lambasts ‘infantile and irresponsible’ Gianni Infantino for trying to overturn Russia ban
05:40 , Arpan RaiUkraine’s sports minister has branded Fifa president Gianni Infantino “infantile” and “irresponsible” for his desire to overturn Russia’s ban from world football.
Fifa’s ruling executive and European football’s governing body Uefa imposed a global ban on Russia at the start of the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when other European nations said they would refuse to play or host Russia’s matches.
Four years later, Vladimir Putin shows no signs of backing down and the war is still raging, but Infantino has signalled his intention to bring Russia back into the fold, saying the ban has been a failure.
Ukraine lambasts ‘infantile’ Gianni Infantino for trying to overturn Russia ban
What to expect as top envoys head to Abu Dhabi for Ukraine peace talks
05:24 , Arpan RaiThe US, Ukrainian and Russian negotiators are hours away from their second round of peace talks to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
While the talks have been shrouded in anger over Moscow’s latest attack on Ukraine, Zelensky sharpened his tone from previous days and said the work of Ukraine's negotiators would be "adjusted accordingly" after Russian army exploited the US-backed ceasefire.
Ukraine's lead negotiator said Ukrainian officials would first hold bilateral talks with US officials in Abu Dhabi to discuss US security guarantees for any peace deal and a post-war reconstruction package, and later hold a trilateral meeting involving Russian negotiators.
Territory remains the main sticking point, with Ukraine resisting Russia's demands that it cede the remaining 20 per cent of eastern region of Donetsk that Moscow has been unable to conquer since its 2022 invasion.
Zelensky has previously said Ukraine, which is struggling to stop grinding Russian battlefield advances, was ready for "substantive" talks. Moscow and Kyiv blame each other for the failure to agree a peace deal.
Kremlin welcomes Fifa chief's remarks over Russian football ban
04:42 , Arpan RaiThe Kremlin has welcomed remarks by Fifa president Gianni Infantino who said Russia's four-year ban from international soccer tournaments should be lifted after it has "achieved nothing".
Russian clubs and the national team have been suspended from Fifa and Uefa competitions since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022.
Asked about Infantino's comments, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said they were "very good" and that it had been a mistake to politicise sport.
Peskov said that Russia's soccer team should now have its rights to compete completely restored.
Putin 'kept his word': Trump reacts after Russia resumes strikes
04:15 , Arpan RaiSecond round of trilateral peace talks to begin amid recriminations over Kyiv attack
03:54 , Arpan RaiThe second round of talks between Ukrainian, Russian and US delegations will begin in Abu Dhabi later today amid tensions over one of Moscow’s biggest air attacks on Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has already confirmed that the work of Ukraine’s negotiating team will be adjusted after Russia’s overnight attack on Ukrainian energy facilities, which involved a record number of ballistic missiles.
“Each such Russian strike confirms that attitudes in Moscow have not changed: they continue to bet on war and the destruction of Ukraine, and they do not take diplomacy seriously. The work of our negotiating team will be adjusted accordingly,” he said on X, but offered no details.
“The Russian army exploited the US proposal to briefly halt strikes not to support diplomacy, but to stockpile missiles and wait until the coldest days of the year, when temperatures across large parts of Ukraine drop below minus 20 deg C,” he said.
The first round of trilateral talks in late January brought no movement on territorial issues, with Moscow demanding Kyiv cede more land in east Ukraine, which it refuses to do.
Kyiv power plant badly damaged, says Ukrainian energy minister
03:34 , Arpan RaiA power plant in Kyiv's eastern suburbs has been seriously damaged in overnight Russian attacks, prompting officials to redirect resources to restoring heating to thousands of residents, Ukraine’s energy minister Denys Shmyhal said.
Shmyhal, writing on Telegram after a meeting devoted to energy issues, said the plant in Darnytskyi had been used strictly for providing heating for people and was heavily damaged.
He described the problems facing Ukraine's energy system as serious and said repairs would take "a considerable time."
"This is a war crime by Russia”.
"Given the critical situation, the meeting discussed urgent ways to stabilise the situation," he wrote.
"A redistribution is being carried out of repair crews and equipment... and we are considering options for redirecting reserve heating supplies to buildings subject to longer outages,” he said.
Russian army exploited Trump's ceasefire proposal, says Zelensky
03:14 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of exploiting a US-backed energy truce to stockpile munitions and using them to attack Ukraine with hundreds of drones and a record number of ballistic missiles, a day before peace talks.
"It was a deliberate attack against energy infrastructure, involving a record number of ballistic missiles," Zelensky wrote on X, a day after saying Moscow had largely observed the moratorium agreed by the two sides on energy facilities.
"The Russian army exploited the US proposal to briefly halt strikes - not to support diplomacy but to stockpile missiles."
Zelensky said Ukraine was waiting for the US reaction to Russia's overnight attack that damaged Ukraine's energy infrastructure, as it was Washington that requested the short-lived ceasefire.
Following today's Russian strike, I held a coordination call to discuss the situation in the regions, particularly the energy sector.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 3, 2026
It was a deliberate attack against energy infrastructure, involving a record number of ballistic missiles. In fact, the Russian army exploited… pic.twitter.com/s1uXUJUutm
