Donald Trump has said he has asked Russian president Vladimir Putin to not attack Ukrainian cities at a time the war-hit nation is experiencing a harsh winter.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting in the White House, Trump told reporters: "I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kyiv and the cities and towns for a week during this... extraordinary cold,” adding that Putin has "agreed to that”.
"A lot of people said, 'Don't waste the call. You're not going to get that.’ And he did it. And we're very happy that they did it,” Trump said.
Kyiv, which has grappled with severe power shortages this winter, is forecast to enter a brutally cold stretch starting Friday that is expected to last into next week. Temperatures in some areas will drop to -30C, the State Emergency Service warned.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked whether a mutual halt on strikes on energy facilities was being discussed between Russia and Ukraine, and he refused to comment on the issue.
This comes hours after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned of Moscow’s plans of another large-scale barrage despite plans for further US-brokered peace talks at the weekend.
Key Points
- Putin 'agrees not to fire at Kyiv for a week' due to the cold temperatures
- Zelensky says Russia is preparing a 'massive strike' ahead of Sunday peace talks
- Kremlin rejects war casualties report, says trust only Moscow's data
- Nearly 2 million military casualties in Ukraine war, reports finds – with Putin’s forces bearing brunt of losses
- Trump's negotiator reveals 'shocking' lack of knowledge about Ukraine war
- Zelensky and Starmer discuss peace talks progress in phone call
Watch: Trump says Putin agreed to not fire on Kyiv for a week during cold
03:15 , Arpan RaiZelensky says he expects implementation of agreement not to fire on Kyiv
02:55 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said he expected the implementation of an agreement by Russia to not fire on Kyiv and other cities for a week because of the “extremely cold” winter weather, as announced by the US president Donald Trump.
"Our teams discussed this in the United Arab Emirates. We expect the agreements to be implemented," Zelensky said.
"De-escalation steps contribute to real progress toward ending the war,” he said.
Trump announced last night that Russian president Vladimir Putin has agreed not to target the Ukrainian capital and other towns for one week as the region experiences frigid temperatures.
Ukraine working with SpaceX to stop Russian drones using Starlink, says Kyiv
02:47 , Arpan RaiUkraine is working with satellite firm SpaceX to stop Russian drones using Starlink to operate, the country’s defence minister said on Thursday.
Reports suggested that Starlinks had been found on Russian long-range UAVs in Ukraine, which are resistant to traditional signal jamming, allowing the military to manually fly drones into Ukrainian targets.
“We are grateful to SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell and personally to Elon Musk for the quick response and the start of work on resolving the situation,” Ukraine's defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov wrote on Telegram.
Full story: Trump envoy showed ‘troubling lack of knowledge at Ukraine peace talks and could not say when war began’
02:03 , Alex CroftOne of Donald Trump’s senior envoys for Ukraine has sparked alarm after making a series of blunders during crucial peace talks, according to a report.
The unnamed official is said to have made several comments that exposed a basic lack of knowledge about the war between Ukraine and Russia during trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi last week.
The talks, set to continue this weekend, are the first between the three countries since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022 - but the comments have led to fears that inexperience and misunderstanding by US officials could pose a risk to Kyiv.
Among the incorrect statements allegedly made during the meetings are errors about how long the war has been going on, when it started and whether or not the country has a vice president.
"General [Kyrylo] Budanov is now their vice president," the official is reported to have said during a meeting with reporters, according to the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine does not have a vice president and Budanov has recently been appointed as head of the President’s office.
Trump envoy showed ‘troubling lack of knowledge at Ukraine peace talks
Temperatures in Ukraine to hit -30C as crops risk damage
01:00 , Alex CroftUkraine will be hit by extremely low temperatures at the beginning of next week, posing a threat to winter crops, according to emergency services and agricultural analysts.
All regions except southern Ukraine will be affected by the freezing conditions between 1 February to 4 February.
“We consider the current cold spell to be extremely dangerous for winter crops across a significant part of Ukraine,” analyst Barva Invest said on Telegram.
Temperatures will plummet to -30C after they dropped to -20Cin early January, easing to above-zero figures this week.
Russia not aware of US guarantees agreed with Ukraine, says Lavrov
00:01 , Alex CroftRussian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has said that he does not know what security guarantees have been agreed between the US and Ukraine, according to the country’s state media.
President Volodymyr Zelensky previously said that a security guarantee agreement was “100 per cent ready” while secretary of state Marco Rubio said that it was dependent on the surrender of the Donbas region
Ukraine is seeking guarantees that would ensure that Russia could not continue to expand into its territory or invade again.
NATO warns Ukraine faces 'harshest winter' as Russia targets energy grid - ICYMI
Thursday 29 January 2026 23:00 , Alex CroftWatch: Zelensky warns Russia is planning ‘massive’ strike ahead of peace talks
Thursday 29 January 2026 22:25 , Harriette BoucherWhat do we know about the next round of peace talks?
Thursday 29 January 2026 21:59 , Harriette BoucherTrilateral peace talks are set to resume in Abu Dhabi this Sunday, following the first round of "constructive" negotiations last weekend.
On Thursday, the Kremlin said it had reiterated its invitation for Volodymyr Zelensky to come to Moscow for peace talks.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said there might be a US presence at the follow-up talks, but special envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who had taken part in the previous round of talks, would not be participating.
It follows the first round of three-way talks on Saturday and Sunday, which was the first trilateral meeting since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Russia and Ukraine carry out new exchange of war dead
Thursday 29 January 2026 21:59 , Alex CroftRussia and Ukraine have carried out a new exchange of their war dead, allowing relatives of those killed to bury their loved ones.
Russia handed over 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers and Kyiv handed back the bodies of 38 Russian soldiers in return, according to Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky.
Ukraine’s coordination centre for prisoner exchanges confirmed the exchange had taken place. The last exchange took place in October 2025 with both sides accusing each other of stalling new exchanges.
Ukraine will not miss out on opportunities for peace, says Zelensky
Thursday 29 January 2026 21:41 , Harriette BoucherVolodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine will not miss out on any opportunity for peace or security guarantees, adding that the country is ready to make decisions.
He said: “We are communicating with our partners – with the American side – about truly effective formats and truly necessary results.
“Ukraine is ready for meetings, Ukraine is ready for decisions, and we expect our partners to be able to act as effectively as possible – in Europe, in the United States, everywhere. Exactly as required for a lasting peace.”
Trilateral peace talks are set to resume in Abu Dhabi this Sunday, following the first round of "constructive" talks over the weekend.
How Putin lures foreign nationals to the frontlines with the promise of work
Thursday 29 January 2026 20:57 , Alex CroftFor average wage earners in Russia, it's a big payday. For criminals seeking to escape the harsh conditions and abuse in prison, it's a chance at freedom. For immigrants hoping for a better life, it's a simplified path to citizenship.
All they have to do is sign a contract to fight in Ukraine.
This desperate recruitment drive is part of Moscow's strategy to replenish its forces in the nearly four-year conflict, while simultaneously avoiding an unpopular nationwide mobilisation. The bloody war of attrition has also seen foreign combatants join the fray. Following a mutual defence treaty in 2024, North Korea reportedly sent thousands of soldiers to help Russia defend its Kursk region against a Ukrainian incursion.
How Putin lures foreign nationals to the frontlines with the promise of work
Zelensky expects ceasefire to start - and thanks Trump for contacting Putin
Thursday 29 January 2026 20:51 , Alex RossVolodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday he expected the implementation of an agreement by Russia not to fire on Kyiv and other cities for a week because of winter weather, as announced Donald Trump.
Zelensky said the days to come would show whether Moscow would abide by such an agreement.
"Our teams discussed this in the United Arab Emirates. We expect the agreements to be implemented," Mr Zelensky wrote in English on X. "De-escalation steps contribute to real progress toward ending the war."
Speaking immediately afterwards in his nightly video address, Mr Zelensky expressed his thanks to Washington for the initiative, which he described as halting Russian strikes on energy targets.
"Thanks to the American side for their efforts in ensuring a stop to strikes on energy (targets) at this time and let's hope that America succeeds in ensuring this," he said.
"We shall see what the real situation is with our energy facilities and cities in the days and nights to come.”
Trump says Putin has agreed to Kyiv ceasefire because of the cold temperatures
Thursday 29 January 2026 17:56 , Shaheena UddinUS president, Donald Trump has said that he asked Russian President Volodymyr Zelensky to stop attacking Kyiv for a week because of the cold temperatures.
Mr Trump speaking in a cabinet meeting on Thursday cited how it’s “extraordinarily cold” with “record setting” temperatures and added that “it's a big pile of bad weather, the worst. They said they've never experienced cold like that” in Ukraine.
Trump said: “I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kyiv and the cities and towns for a week and he agreed to do that and I have to tell you it was very nice.
“A lot of people said don't waste the call, you're not going to get that, and he did it and we're very happy that they did it.”
Zelensky warns Russia 'preparing a new massive strike'
Thursday 29 January 2026 17:51 , Alex CroftPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia is preparing a “new massive strike” as he said the attacks discredited peace talks.
“The Russians are preparing a new massive strike – our intelligence indicates this,” he said in a video to his social media account on Wednesday.
“The United States, Europe, and all our partners have to understand how this discredits diplomatic talks. Every single Russian strike does.”
EU blacklists Russia for risk of money laundering
Thursday 29 January 2026 16:50 , Maira ButtRussia has been blacklisted by the European Union on Thursday due to a risk of money laundering, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.
“This will slow down and increase the costs of transactions with Russian banks,” Kallas told reporters.
Donetsk ownership is final issue preventing peace deal says Rubio
Thursday 29 January 2026 16:20 , Maira ButtDonetsk remains the final contentious issue preventing a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, according to US secretary of state Marco Rubio.
“The one remaining item … is the territorial claim on Donetsk. There is active work going to try to see if both sides’ views on this can be reconciled,” he told a US Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting.
“It’s still a bridge we haven’t crossed. It’s still a gap, but at least we’ve been able to narrow down the issue set to one central one, and it will probably be a very difficult one.”
Russia repeats invitation for Zelensky to visit Moscow for peace talks
Thursday 29 January 2026 15:50 , Maira ButtThe Kremlin reiterated its invitation for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to visit Moscow for peace talks on Thursday.
It follows the countries latest exchange of their war dead and rumours that an agreement has been reached to stop striking each other’s energy infrastructure.
A US official told Axios on Saturday that Zelensky and Putin were “very close” to setting up a meeting after US-brokered talks, which are to continue this weekend.
Russian drone attack kills 3 in southern Ukraine as further US-led peace talks approach
Thursday 29 January 2026 15:20 , Maira ButtA Russian drone attack killed three people in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region overnight, authorities said Thursday, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Moscow is planning another large-scale barrage despite plans for further U.S.-brokered peace talks at the weekend.
The Zaporizhzhia strike caused a major blaze in an apartment building, according to emergency services.
Firefighters also worked through the night to put out fires in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, where two people were injured, officials said.
Zelenskyy said Ukrainian intelligence reports indicate Russia is assembling forces for a major aerial attack. Previous large attacks, sometimes involving more than 800 drones as well as cruise and ballistic missiles, have targeted the Ukrainian power grid.
Russian drone attack kills 3 in southern Ukraine as further US-led peace talks approach
Zelensky says Ukraine has 'significantly diversified' gas supplies following Russian strikes
Thursday 29 January 2026 14:50 , Maira ButtUkraine has diversified its gas supplies following continuous Russian bombardment, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday.
“We are ensuring a reliable gas supply for Ukrainians despite all challenges,” he wrote on X/Twitter on Thursday.
“We continue to import sufficient volumes. Supply routes have been significantly diversified.”
Attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have left hundreds and thousands in the country without power during one of the country’s coldest winters.
Zelensky was forced to declare a state of emergency earlier this month.
Ukraine working with SpaceX to stop Russian drones using Starlink, says Kyiv
Thursday 29 January 2026 14:20 , Maira ButtUkraine is working with satellite firm SpaceX to stop Russian drones using Starlink to operate, the country’s defence minister said on Thursday.
Reports suggested that Starlinks had been found on Russian long-range UAVs in Ukraine, which are resistant to traditional signal jamming, allowing the military to manually fly drones into Ukrainian targets.
“We are grateful to SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell and personally to Elon Musk for the quick response and the start of work on resolving the situation,” Ukraine's defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov wrote on Telegram.
Chechen leader says Russia should fight war to the end
Thursday 29 January 2026 13:50 , Maira ButtThe leader of Russia’s Chechnya region says he is “against negotiations” and believes that the country should continue the war “to its conclusion”.
“I believe the war must be taken to its conclusion... I am against negotiations,” Ramzan Kadyrov told reporters at the Kremlin, where President Vladimir Putin was meeting the president of the United Arab Emirates.
Watch: Zelensky warns Russia is planning ‘massive’ strike ahead of peace talks
Thursday 29 January 2026 13:20 , Maira ButtTemperatures in Ukraine to hit -30C as crops risk damage
Thursday 29 January 2026 12:50 , Maira ButtUkraine will be hit by extremely low temperatures at the beginning of next week, posing a threat to winter crops, according to emergency services and agricultural analysts.
All regions except southern Ukraine will be affected by the freezing conditions between 1 February to 4 February.
“We consider the current cold spell to be extremely dangerous for winter crops across a significant part of Ukraine,” analyst Barva Invest said on Telegram.
Temperatures will plummet to -30C after they dropped to -20Cin early January, easing to above-zero figures this week.
Full story: Trump envoy showed ‘troubling lack of knowledge at Ukraine peace talks and could not say when war began’
Thursday 29 January 2026 12:20 , Maira ButtOne of Donald Trump’s senior envoys for Ukraine has sparked alarm after making a series of blunders during crucial peace talks, according to a report.
The unnamed official is said to have made several comments that exposed a basic lack of knowledge about the war between Ukraine and Russia during trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi last week.
The talks, set to continue this weekend, are the first between the three countries since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022 - but the comments have led to fears that inexperience and misunderstanding by US officials could pose a risk to Kyiv.
Among the incorrect statements allegedly made during the meetings are errors about how long the war has been going on, when it started and whether or not the country has a vice president.
"General [Kyrylo] Budanov is now their vice president," the official is reported to have said during a meeting with reporters, according to the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine does not have a vice president and Budanov has recently been appointed as head of the President’s office.
Trump envoy showed ‘troubling lack of knowledge at Ukraine peace talks
Russia not aware of US guarantees agreed with Ukraine, says Lavrov
Thursday 29 January 2026 11:49 , Maira ButtRussian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has said that he does not know what security guarantees have been agreed between the US and Ukraine, according to the country’s state media.
President Volodymyr Zelensky previously said that a security guarantee agreement was “100 per cent ready” while secretary of state Marco Rubio said that it was dependent on the surrender of the Donbas region
Ukraine is seeking guarantees that would ensure that Russia could not continue to expand into its territory or invade again.
Russia and Ukraine carry out new exchange of war dead
Thursday 29 January 2026 11:18 , Maira ButtRussia and Ukraine have carried out a new exchange of their war dead, allowing relatives of those killed to bury their loved ones.
Russia handed over 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers and Kyiv handed back the bodies of 38 Russian soldiers in return, according to Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky.
Ukraine’s coordination centre for prisoner exchanges confirmed the exchange had taken place. The last exchange took place in October 2025 with both sides accusing each other of stalling new exchanges.
US officials ‘do not know the basics’ and have made ‘several big mistakes’ during Ukraine-Russia peace talks
Thursday 29 January 2026 10:45 , Maira ButtA top US official has made a series of blunders exposing a lack of basic understanding about the Ukraine and Russia conflict amid high-stakes peace talks, according to reports.
The trilateral discussions between the US, Russia and Ukraine are set to continue this weekend but inexperience and misunderstandings by the Americans are said to pose serious risks to Ukraine.
Among the incorrect statements made during the meetings are errors about how long the war has been going on, when it started and whether or not the country has a vice president.
The discussions have so far been led by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, army secretary Dan Driscoll and other senior members of the administration.
“This is a serious problem,” Oleksandr Merezhko, head of Ukraine's parliament foreign affairs committee, told the publication explaining that the developments were deeply troubling. “(The envoy) has already made several big mistakes — both technical and, in essence, serious diplomatic ones.”
How Putin lures foreign nationals to the frontlines with the promise of work
Thursday 29 January 2026 10:15 , Maira ButtFor average wage earners in Russia, it's a big payday. For criminals seeking to escape the harsh conditions and abuse in prison, it's a chance at freedom. For immigrants hoping for a better life, it's a simplified path to citizenship.
All they have to do is sign a contract to fight in Ukraine.
This desperate recruitment drive is part of Moscow's strategy to replenish its forces in the nearly four-year conflict, while simultaneously avoiding an unpopular nationwide mobilisation. The bloody war of attrition has also seen foreign combatants join the fray. Following a mutual defence treaty in 2024, North Korea reportedly sent thousands of soldiers to help Russia defend its Kursk region against a Ukrainian incursion.
How Putin lures foreign nationals to the frontlines with the promise of work
In pictures: The aftermath of a Russian drone strike in Odesa
Thursday 29 January 2026 09:44 , Maira ButtFirefighters work at a facility of an industrial enterprise hit during an overnight Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa on Thursday.
Donetsk ownership is final issue preventing peace deal says Rubio
Thursday 29 January 2026 09:17 , Maira ButtDonetsk remains the final contentious issue preventing a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, according to US secretary of state Marco Rubio.
“The one remaining item … is the territorial claim on Donetsk. There is active work going to try to see if both sides’ views on this can be reconciled,” he told a US Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting.
“It’s still a bridge we haven’t crossed. It’s still a gap, but at least we’ve been able to narrow down the issue set to one central one, and it will probably be a very difficult one.”
Zelensky warns Russia 'preparing a new massive strike'
Thursday 29 January 2026 08:50 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia is preparing a “new massive strike” as he said the attacks discredited peace talks.
“The Russians are preparing a new massive strike – our intelligence indicates this,” he said in a video to his social media account on Wednesday.
“The United States, Europe, and all our partners have to understand how this discredits diplomatic talks. Every single Russian strike does.”
The Russians are preparing a new massive strike – our intelligence indicates this. The United States, Europe, and all our partners have to understand how this discredits diplomatic talks. Every single Russian strike does. pic.twitter.com/1bKKXNeMwe
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 28, 2026
Russia's sanctioned Lukoil to sell most of its foreign assets to US Carlyle Group
Thursday 29 January 2026 08:25 , Maira ButtRussia’s second largest oil producer has agreed to sell most of its foreign assets to the US Carlyle Group pending approval from the US government.
The foreign assets are worth around $22bn and are held by the company’s unit LUKOIL International GmbH, which oversees them.
“The agreement signed is not exclusive for the Company and is subject to some conditions precedent such as procurement of necessary regulatory approvals including permission of the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for the transaction with Carlyle,” Lukoil said in a statement.
The company was sanctioned by the US in October due to slow progress in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, according to Washington.
Three people killed in overnight shelling in Ukraine
Thursday 29 January 2026 07:57 , Maira ButtThree people have been killed in overnight Russian attacks in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, according to the area’s governor.
Two women aged 26 and 50 and a 62-year-old man were killed in the incident in the city of Vilnyansk, said Governor Ivan Fedorov.
Drones struck the area at around midnight (10pm GMT). Several houses were damaged and one was completely destroyed, he said.
Estonia seeks to prevent Russian combatants from entering Schengen area
Thursday 29 January 2026 07:35 , Maira ButtEstonia’s foreign minister Magnus Tsahkna has said that Russians who have fought in the war against Ukraine should be prevented from entering the Schengen area.
The region consists of 29 countries in Europe and border-free travel is enabled between them.
“You can imagine these hundreds of thousands of ex combatants and criminals, coming here and what they're going to do,” he said.
“They're going to do many bad things.”
Moscow ready for Putin-Zelensky meeting if Ukraine president comes, says Kremlin
Thursday 29 January 2026 07:14 , Arpan RaiA senior Kremlin official has said Russia can hold direct talks with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky, provided he travels to Moscow to speak with his Russian counterpart.
“We have never refused and do not refuse this kind of contact," Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said, adding that Moscow is prepared to ensure Zelensky's security and working conditions if he comes to Russia.
It isn't the first time Russia has said Zelensky should travel to Moscow if he wants a leaders' summit with Putin. Kyiv has dismissed the suggestion as a non-starter given the security threat the Ukrainian president would face.
Ushakov's remarks come after Ukraine's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said Zelensky is ready to meet Putin to resolve the two key issues in the peace talks, including territorial questions and the future of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Kremlin rejects war casualties report, says trust only Moscow's data
Thursday 29 January 2026 07:04 , Arpan RaiA senior Kremlin official has rejected a report claiming Russia has sustained the largest number of troop deaths for any major power in any conflict since the Second World War.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov snubbed the findings and said people should only trust casualty figures shared by the Russian defence ministry.
“I don’t think such reports can and should be viewed as reliable information,” Peskov told reporters at a daily briefing yesterday.
Russia has rarely released any details of its casualties in Ukraine and the figures it does put out are widely considered to be understatements.
A report from US think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies said Russia suffered 1.2 million casualties, including up to 325,000 troop deaths, between February 2022 and December 2025.
Zelensky says Russia is preparing a 'massive strike' ahead of Sunday peace talks
Thursday 29 January 2026 06:44 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky said that Ukrainian intelligence has indicated that Russia was preparing “a new massive strike” as he reminds world leaders that any attack will discredit the peace process.
“The United States, Europe, and all our partners have to understand how this discredits diplomatic talks,” Zelensky said.
“Every single Russian strike does.”
Trilateral negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the US are due to resume in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, following the first round of "constructive" talks over the weekend.
Kremlin says peace talks with US and Ukraine to resume on Sunday
Thursday 29 January 2026 06:25 , Arpan RaiThe trilateral negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and the United States to reach a resolution on the war in Ukraine are set to continue in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, the Kremlin said.
A first round of three-way talks on ending the four-year war took place in the same location last weekend.
The US secretary of state Marco Rubio said there might be a US presence in the follow-up Ukraine talks, but president Donald Trump's top envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who had taken part in the previous round of talks last weekend in Abu Dhabi, will not be participating.
The talks last weekend, which included a rare face-to-face engagement between Russian and Ukrainian officials, ended without a deal, but Moscow and Kyiv said they were open to further dialogue.
More discussions were expected next Sunday in Abu Dhabi, said a US official who spoke to reporters at the time.
Rubio suggests Ukraine agreeing to Washington's security guarantees
Thursday 29 January 2026 05:52 , Arpan RaiUS secretary of state Marco Rubio has hinted that Ukraine and Washington are getting closer to agreeing on security guarantees in the ongoing talks.
On being asked if security guarantees for Ukraine were agreed to by the US and Ukrainian sides, he said: "I think you could argue they're agreed to from our side of the equation. There's obviously a Russian dynamic at play here.”
“And of course, any security guarantees would come into play after the conflict would end," Rubio said.
The Financial Times reported on Tuesday that Washington told Ukraine it must sign on to a peace deal with Russia to get US security guarantees.
Bangladeshi workers lured to Russia for jobs tricked into fighting brutal war in Ukraine
Thursday 29 January 2026 05:30 , Arpan RaiA Bangladeshi man, Maksudur Rahman, was reportedly lured from his tropical homeland to Russia with the promise of a janitorial job, only to find himself thrust onto the front lines of the war in Ukraine within weeks.
An investigation by The Associated Press has uncovered a pattern where Bangladeshi workers are enticed to Russia under false pretences of civilian employment, subsequently coerced into combat roles.
Many of these individuals faced threats of violence, imprisonment, or even death if they refused. Mr Rahman, among three Bangladeshi men who managed to escape the Russian military and spoke to AP, recounted how he and fellow workers were instructed to sign Russian documents upon arrival in Moscow, which later proved to be military contracts.
Bangladeshis lured to Russia for work tricked into fighting brutal war in Ukraine
Watch: Zelensky warns Russia is planning ‘massive’ strike ahead of peace talks
Thursday 29 January 2026 05:14 , Arpan RaiFrance sending power generators to Ukraine, says Macron after call with Zelensky
Thursday 29 January 2026 05:07 , Arpan RaiFrench president Emmanuel Macron said he had spoken to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday to express his condemnation of Russia's latest attacks and assured that power generators are being sent to Ukraine.
The recent wave of Russian attacks have knocked out power and heating systems in much of Ukraine, as both countries target each other's energy infrastructure.
Zelensky said that he briefed Macron on the frontline situation and Russian losses.
“And, of course, we discussed how to strengthen our energy resilience. In the near future, Ukraine will receive generators from France. There will also be additional deliveries this year of French aircraft, missiles for air defence systems, and aerial bombs,” he said, thanking the French leader.
I spoke with President of France @EmmanuelMacron.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 28, 2026
I briefed him on the frontline situation and Russian losses. I am grateful for his words of condolence regarding Russian strikes on civilians, and in particular the attack on a passenger train in the Kharkiv region.
We discussed… pic.twitter.com/9MXwc0wcOe
Nearly 2 million military casualties in Ukraine war, reports finds – with Putin’s forces bearing brunt of losses
Thursday 29 January 2026 04:54 , Arpan RaiThe number of soldiers killed, injured or missing on both sides of Russia's war on Ukraine could hit two million by the spring, a report has warned - with Russia suffering the largest number of troop deaths recorded for any major power in any conflict since the Second World War.
The study by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies revealed the slow, deadly grind of the conflict, and comes before the fourth anniversary of the Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February.
The report said Russia suffered 1.2 million casualties, including up to 325,000 troop deaths, between February 2022 and December 2025. "No major power has suffered anywhere near these numbers of casualties or fatalities in any war since World War II,” the authors said.
It estimated that Ukraine, with its smaller army and population, had suffered between 500,000 to 600,000 military casualties, including up to 140,000 deaths.
Nearly 2 million military casualties in Ukraine war, reports finds
Trump's negotiator reveals 'shocking' lack of knowledge about Ukraine war
Thursday 29 January 2026 04:40 , Arpan RaiA senior US envoy engaged in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine is not aware of the date when the invasion took place and that the war-hit nation does not have a vice-president, officials said.
Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and real estate developer-turned-peace envoy Steve Witkoff are helming the peace talks for the Trump administration.
Without naming which envoy made the blunder, an official involved in the talks told the Kyiv Independent that a US negotiator referred to the head of the president’s office, Kryrlo Budanov, as Ukraine’s vice president.
Ukraine does not have a vice president under its constitutional framework. The president, Volodymyr Zelensky at present, is the head of state. The authority is temporarily passed on to the chairperson of parliament if the president cannot perform duties.
The US official also did not know basic facts about the war. On being asked if the peace push from the Trump administration was aimed at ending the war by its fourth anniversary on 24 February, the US envoy said he was not aware of when the full-scale invasion began.
“I wasn't aware of what that anniversary date was," the envoy answered. "I don't think we feel pressure to because we have a four-year anniversary,” he said.
He also falsely claimed that Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine has lasted longer than the Second World War.
"I think it's the longest war now. It was longer than World War II. At this point, it's been going on."
How Putin lures foreign nationals to the frontlines with the promise of work
Thursday 29 January 2026 04:32 , Arpan RaiFor average wage earners in Russia, it's a big payday. For criminals seeking to escape the harsh conditions and abuse in prison, it's a chance at freedom. For immigrants hoping for a better life, it's a simplified path to citizenship.
All they have to do is sign a contract to fight in Ukraine.
This desperate recruitment drive is part of Moscow's strategy to replenish its forces in the nearly four-year conflict, while simultaneously avoiding an unpopular nationwide mobilisation. The bloody war of attrition has also seen foreign combatants join the fray. Following a mutual defence treaty in 2024, North Korea reportedly sent thousands of soldiers to help Russia defend its Kursk region against a Ukrainian incursion.
How Putin lures foreign nationals to the frontlines with the promise of work
Watch: Carriages burn following deadly Russian drone attack on Ukraine passenger train
Thursday 29 January 2026 04:10 , Arpan RaiKremlin rejects war casualties report, says trust only Moscow's data
Thursday 29 January 2026 03:33 , Arpan RaiA senior Kremlin official has rejected a report claiming Russia has sustained the largest number of troop deaths for any major power in any conflict since the Second World War.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov snubbed the findings and said people should only trust casualty figures shared by the Russian defence ministry.
“I don’t think such reports can and should be viewed as reliable information,” Peskov told reporters at a daily briefing yesterday.
Russia has rarely released any details of its casualties in Ukraine and the figures it does put out are widely considered to be understatements.
A report from US think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies said Russia suffered 1.2 million casualties, including up to 325,000 troop deaths, between February 2022 and December 2025.
Zelensky says Russia is preparing a 'massive strike' ahead of Sunday peace talks
Thursday 29 January 2026 03:20 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky said that Ukrainian intelligence has indicated that Russia was preparing “a new massive strike” as he reminds world leaders that any attack will discredit the peace process.
“The United States, Europe, and all our partners have to understand how this discredits diplomatic talks,” Zelensky said.
“Every single Russian strike does.”
Trilateral negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the US are due to resume in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, following the first round of "constructive" talks over the weekend.
The Russians are preparing a new massive strike – our intelligence indicates this. The United States, Europe, and all our partners have to understand how this discredits diplomatic talks. Every single Russian strike does. pic.twitter.com/1bKKXNeMwe
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 28, 2026
Rubio says active work is underway to resolve Donetsk issues in peace talks
Thursday 29 January 2026 03:08 , Arpan RaiWork is underway to resolve the key territorial issue of Donetsk in peace talks, Marco Rubio has said.
The US Secretary of State described the disagreement as one of the central remaining issues, which he said was “very difficult” to settle.
Vladimir Putin has repeatedly insisted that Russia will take all of Ukraine's Donbas region by force if Ukraine does not surrender it in a peace deal.
The US has also signalled that security guarantees would only be promised to Ukraine if it agrees to give up the Donbas region, of which Moscow's forces control 90 per cent.
Northern and eastern Ukraine face coldest winter in years after Russian strikes on power grid
Thursday 29 January 2026 02:58 , Arpan RaiDaily life is going to be particularly tough for Ukrainians over the next three weeks due to plunging temperatures and a compromised energy infrastructure that has been pummelled by intense Russian attacks, depriving millions of light and heat, a senior lawmaker has warned.
Weather forecasts for the next week show extremely low temperatures with the mercury set to dip below -20 degrees Celsius (-4°F) in northern and eastern parts of Ukraine next week.
“The bad news is that there will indeed be frosts, and it will be difficult," Andriy Gerus, the head of the parliament's energy committee, told TV channel Marathon.
“The good news is that we need to hold out for three weeks, and then it will get easier," he added, citing predicted warmer temperatures and increased solar power from longer days.
His remarks come in the light of Russia stepping up bombardments beyond the frontline that stretches across eastern and southern Ukraine.
Moscow is counting on the harsh winter and terrorising civilians in Ukrainian cities to use as leverage in the ongoing trilateral peace negotiations.
Watch: Carriages burn following deadly Russian drone attack on Ukraine passenger train
Thursday 29 January 2026 02:01 , Harriette BoucherFrance to send power generators to Ukraine following latest round of attacks
Thursday 29 January 2026 01:00 , Harriette BoucherFrench President Emmanuel Macron has announced he will send power generators to Ukraine, following Russia’s latest attack on Kharkiv, which knocked out power to most of the city.
President Macron spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, expressing condemnation for the attacks.
In a post on X, President Macron said: “Faced with this emergency, we are taking action. Following the G7+ meeting co-chaired by France, generators will be sent to Ukraine to help the population get through the winter.
“France’s position is clear: we will support Ukraine for as long as necessary, so that it can defend itself and thwart the war of aggression waged by Russia.”
Russian-Uzbek billionaire wins legal case against German newspaper
Thursday 29 January 2026 00:00 , Alex CroftRussian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov has won a legal complaint against German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung over an article it published about him, Reuters is reporting.
In a ruling dated January 23, a Hamburg court prohibited FAZ from disseminating several statements, including allegations about Mr Usmanov's links to top Russian officials, from an April 2023 article titled "On the Kremlin's instructions".
Mr Usmanov has a net worth of $18.8 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, and is subject to European Union and US sanctions and a travel ban that were imposed after the start of the war in Ukraine.
He has launched multiple lawsuits in Europe with the ultimate goal of having the sanctions lifted. In some, his lawyers contested statements in the media that were used as the grounds for sanctions.
Russian drones damage port in Ukraine's Odesa region
Wednesday 28 January 2026 23:00 , Alex CroftRussian drones damaged port infrastructure in Ukraine's southern region of Odesa, on the Black Sea coast, the regional governor said on Wednesday.
Three people were hurt in the attack, Oleh Kiper said on the Telegram messaging app.
A residential building and buildings in the vicinity of an Orthodox monastery were also damaged, he added.
Nearly 2 million military casualties in Ukraine war, reports finds - with Putin’s forces bearing brunt of losses
Wednesday 28 January 2026 22:57 , Harriette BoucherThe number of soldiers killed, injured or missing on both sides of Russia's war on Ukraine could hit two million by the spring, a report has warned - with Russia suffering the largest number of troop deaths recorded for any major power in any conflict since the Second World War.
The study by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies revealed the slow, deadly grind of the conflict, and comes before the fourth anniversary of the Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February.
The report said Russia suffered 1.2 million casualties, including up to 325,000 troop deaths, between February 2022 and December 2025. "No major power has suffered anywhere near these numbers of casualties or fatalities in any war since World War II,” the authors said.
Nearly 2 million military casualties in Ukraine war, reports finds
Zelensky and Starmer discuss peace talks progress in phone call
Wednesday 28 January 2026 22:00 , Alex CroftBritish prime minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Tuesday afternoon, a Downing Street spokesperson said in a statement.
Sir Keir and Mr Zelensky discussed progress made during recent peace talks in Abu Dhabi and agreed on need for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, according to the statement.
The prime minister will head to China today for a visit aimed at strengthening political and business ties, after years of deepening animosity between Beijing and London, exacerbated by China’s close relationship with Russia during its invasion of Ukraine.
France opposes EU funding for British Storm Shadow cruise missiles for Ukraine
Wednesday 28 January 2026 21:01 , Alex CroftFrance is against the European Union purchasing British Storm Shadow cruise missiles for Ukraine, according to the Telegraph.
Eleven European countries proposed a relaxation of rules on a 90 billion euro loan so that part of the funds could be used on British weapons.
But France insists that the money should only be spent within the EU.
The current rules give priority to European and Ukrainian defence manufacturers rather than those outside of the EU.
Ukraine will not accept 'meaningless' security guarantees
Wednesday 28 January 2026 20:02 , Alex Croft“Meaningless” security guarantees will not be accepted by Ukraine, a top Ukrainian official has said as trilateral peace talks are set to continue this weekend.
“Unsurprisingly, after all of these experiences, Ukrainians have become extremely wary of any discussion on security guarantees. They are not going to accept another meaningless offer, no matter how nicely it is packaged under the label ‘security guarantees’,” Ukraine’s ambassador to Nato Alyona Getmanchuk wrote in the Telegraph.
“Ukrainians have no illusions that any potential break in the war in the form of a ceasefire with [Vladimir] Putin would ultimately lead to peace rather than a new round of aggression,” she continued.
“That’s why this time – unlike in 2015, when the Minsk deal on Donbas was reached and Normandy format talks were launched – security guarantees are still seen by Ukrainians as an integral part for any peace settlement, not the result of it.”
Rubio says active work is underway to resolve Donetsk issues in peace talks
Wednesday 28 January 2026 19:19 , Harriette BoucherWork is underway to resolve the key territorial issue of Donestsk in peace talks, Marco Rubio has said.
The US Secretary of State described the disagreement as one of the central remaining issues, which he said was “very difficult” to settle.
Vladimir Putin has repeatedly insisted that Russia will take all of Ukraine's Donbas region by force if Ukraine does not surrender it in a peace deal.
The US has also signalled that security guarantees would only be promised to Ukraine if it agrees to give up the Donbas region, of which Moscow's forces control 90 per cent.
In pictures: Two killed in strike in Kyiv region
Wednesday 28 January 2026 19:00 , Alex Croft
Ukraine says Lukashenko must be held accountable for 'complicity' in war
Wednesday 28 January 2026 18:01 , Alex CroftBelarus should be held accountable for its role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said, announcing sanctions against the neighbouring country’s president Alexander Lukashenko.
"The Lukashenko regime, and (Lukashenko) himself, must bear responsibility for their complicity in Russian aggression," Sybiha told news outlet European Pravda.
Sybiha said he shares the view of much of the West that Lukashenko has rigged elections to remain in power.
“This is the so-called president. Ukraine, like other European countries, does not consider him the legitimately elected president of Belarus,” he said.
Sybiha said Lukashenko’s Belarusian regime is responsible for providing territory for attacks on Ukraine.
“This makes them complicit in the aggression against Ukraine. And now we see new elements of support for Russian aggression from the Lukashenko regime. They are providing their infrastructure for drone attacks on Ukrainian territory,” he said.
France to send power generators to Ukraine following latest round of attacks
Wednesday 28 January 2026 17:46 , Harriette BoucherFrench President Emmanuel Macron has announced he will send power generators to Ukraine, following Russia’s latest attack on Kharkiv, which knocked out power to most of the city.
President Macron spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, expressing condemnation for the attacks.
In a post on X, President Macron said: “Faced with this emergency, we are taking action. Following the G7+ meeting co-chaired by France, generators will be sent to Ukraine to help the population get through the winter.
“France’s position is clear: we will support Ukraine for as long as necessary, so that it can defend itself and thwart the war of aggression waged by Russia.”
