Wednesday, January 29
Russia’s war against Ukraine
Fire brigades start work in the area following Russian drone and missile attack in Odesa, Ukraine on Jan. 28, 2025. A Russian attack on Odesa left four people injured, Odesa Regional State Administration reported. (Odesa Regional Military Administration / Anadolu via Getty Images)
Putin claims Zelensky doesn’t have a right to sign any potential peace deal. “Negotiations can be held with anyone,” Putin said. “But due to his illegitimacy he has no right to sign anything. If (Zelensky) wants to take part in talks, I will delegate people who will conduct such talks. But the (key) issue is the ultimate signing of the documents.”
‘Putin afraid of negotiations’ — Zelensky hits back after Kremlin leader labels him ‘illegitimate.’ “Today, Putin once again proved that he is afraid of negotiations, afraid of strong leaders, and is doing everything possible to drag out the war. Every step he takes, every cynical maneuver, is aimed at making this war endless,” Zelensky said on Jan. 28.
Drone strikes target multiple Russian regions, hit oil refinery in Nizhny Novgorod. Drone strikes were reported across several Russian regions, including the Nizhny Novgorod, Smolensk, Tver, and Bryansk regions, causing fires and prompting air defense responses.
‘Pure propaganda’ — Kharkiv Oblast governor denies Russian claims of capturing Dvorichna. Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov on Jan. 28 refuted the Russian Defense Ministry’s claims that Russian forces had captured the village of Dvorichna in the Kupiansk district, emphasizing that fighting in the area is ongoing, Ukrinform reported.
‘Stupid, illogical’ — Zelensky blasts Ukraine for relinquishing nuclear arms without strong security guarantees. “It was necessary to exchange (nuclear arms) for real security guarantees, and at the time, that was only NATO. And to be honest, today, it is only NATO,” President Zelensky said in an interview with the Italian newspaper Il Foglio.
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Russia pressuring relatives of Ukrainian POWs to collaborate, officials say.
The calls are used to pressure relatives into cooperating with Russian forces by demanding money, sensitive information, or illegal actions in exchange for promises of better treatment or inclusion in prisoner exchanges, according to the Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of POWs.
SBU says it dismantled Russian spy network targeting F-16 jets. The operation, conducted near a military airfield, led to the arrest of two agents who were caught photographing a Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet during takeoff.
Defense Minister Umerov under investigation for possible abuse of power, office position, media reports. Proceedings against Rustem Umerov opened at the request of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, NABU said.
Government dismisses Deputy Defense Minister Klimenkov amid procurement tensions. The decision follows ongoing tensions within the Defense Ministry over its weapons procurement process, which has been heavily scrutinized amid reform efforts.
Ukraine war latest: Putin claims Zelensky doesn’t have a right to sign any potential peace deal
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is “illegitimate” and said that he has no right to sign any documents in potential peace negotiations, according to an interview with the state TV channel Rossiya 1 broadcast on Jan. 28.
Photo: Getty Images
Trump’s stance on Ukraine, Russia — what we know from his first week in office
For those with a vested interest in Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump’s first week in office was a bit of a rollercoaster. His inauguration speech made no explicit mention of Ukraine or Russia’s full-scale invasion, prompting some to question if either was anywhere near a priority for the new president.
Photo: Andrew Harnik / Getty Images
Human cost of war
Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 4, injure 24 over past day. Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least four civilians and injured at least 23 over the past day, regional authorities reported on Jan. 28.
Opinions and insights
Trump’s Russia sanctions might be what finally works
“Russia’s reliance on oil exports is not just a weakness of international sanctions but also a critical vulnerability for the Kremlin. Without this revenue, the dire state of the Russian economy and its ability to fund its war of aggression in Ukraine would become perilous. Trump recognizes this — and sees an opportunity,” Tom Keatinge,
director of RUSI’s Center for Finance and Security, writes in his op-ed.
Photo: Artem Priakhin/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Trump’s foreign aid freeze stranded independent media in Ukraine. Here’s how you can help
“In Ukraine, independent media never had the opportunity to develop and adapt. The market has been merciless, and independent outlets have faced stiff competition from oligarch-owned media — lavishly funded but designed to serve their owners’ interests rather than the public good,” Olga Rudenko, chief Editor of the Kyiv Independent, writes in her op-ed.
Photo: Ed Ram / Getty Images
3 key takeaways from Davos from Ukraine’s economy minister
“The discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos were a stark reminder of how interconnected the global economy is, and how Ukraine’s stability — or lack thereof — affects us all,” Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s first deputy prime minister and economy minister writes in her op-ed.
Photo: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Davos heard Ukraine’s call, but will Europe seize the opportunity?
“Europe desperately needs to strengthen its military capabilities and revitalize its defense industry. Ukraine has the largest and most experienced military in Europe and some of the world’s most advanced drone technology,” Stephan Jensen,
Ukraine Country Director at the Tony Blair Institute, writes in his op-ed.
Photo: Fabrice Coffrini / AFP via Getty Images
International response
US transfers 90 Patriot missiles from Israel to Ukraine, Axios reports. In preparation for the transfer, U.S. Air Force cargo planes recently transported the interceptors from an air base in southern Israel to Rzeszów, Poland, a key logistics hub for military aid to Ukraine.
Swedish police detain man for trying to drive car into Russian Embassy grounds. A man attempted to ram the gates of Russia’s embassy in Sweden with a passenger car on Jan. 28, the Swedish television channel SVT Nyheter reported.
EU considering new trade regime with Ukraine, media reports. While the European Commission allegedly does not plan to reinstate pre-war trade rules, it is considering alternatives within the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) framework, including quotas for agricultural products and additional safeguards.
NATO official ties assassination plot against Rheinmetall CEO to Russian sabotage campaign. Speaking at the European Parliament, NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary-General James Appathurai confirmed the threats against Rheinmetall’s CEO, which had previously been circulating only in the media.
Italian parliament extends military support for Ukraine through 2025. Earlier, the Italian Senate approved the measure with 192 votes in favor and 41 against.
China urges Russia, US to cut nuclear arsenals before joining disarmament talks. In a video message to the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his desire for “denuclearisation” and reiterated his call for trilateral discussions involving the U.S., Russia, and China.
In other news
Russian oil sales to China and India stall as sanctions increase costs, Reuters reports. The disruption has led to stalled trade in Russian crude loaded for March delivery as rising shipping costs created a significant price gap between buyers and sellers, according to Reuters.
Uzbekistan Airways reroute European flights to avoid Russia, Belarus as ‘precaution.’ Uzbekistan Airways airliners have changed their routes when flying to Europe to avoid Russian and Belarusian airspace as a “precautionary measure,” the Uzbek news outlet Repost reported on Jan. 28.
Large amount of Russian military gear reportedly evacuated from Syria’s Tartus port. A “large amount” of Russian military equipment vanished from the Syrian port of Tartus with the departure of the Russian cargo ship Sparta II, an investigative journalist at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Mark Krutov, said on Jan. 27, citing satellite images.
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