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US Pushes for Ukraine-Russia Peace by June Amid Ongoing Attacks

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the US aims to end the war with Russia by June, inviting both sides to hold talks in the United States next week, likely in Miami. Zelensky confirmed Ukraine’s participation but noted that difficult issues, including territorial concessions, remain unresolved. For the first time, leaders may be involved in trilateral discussions, though preparatory steps are required before this can happen.

Meanwhile, Russia continues to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing widespread blackouts amid freezing temperatures. More than 400 drones and 40 missiles struck power plants, substations, and transmission lines, affecting regions such as Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Rivne. Thousands of Ukrainians remain without electricity, forcing many to take shelter in metro stations. Ukraine has also retaliated with strikes on Russian military and industrial facilities in Tver and Saratov regions.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly four years ago, more than 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed, with nearly 160,000 Russian military casualties confirmed. Zelensky emphasized that Moscow should not be allowed to leverage the harsh winter to pressure Ukraine. Despite ongoing diplomacy, the conflict continues to inflict severe humanitarian and infrastructural damage.

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Italy Thwarts Russian Cyber-Attacks Ahead of Winter Olympics

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Italy has successfully blocked cyber-attacks of Russian origin targeting websites linked to the Winter Olympics, hotels in host town Cortina d’Ampezzo, and foreign ministry facilities, including an embassy in Washington. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed the attacks were prevented before the Games officially begin on Friday.

Cortina d’Ampezzo, one of five Olympic host clusters, will stage alpine skiing, biathlon, curling, and sliding events. The attacks were aimed at disrupting digital operations surrounding the Games, but Italy’s cybersecurity measures ensured no critical systems were compromised.

Meanwhile, debates continue over the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions. Although both nations remain excluded from the Olympics, 13 Russian and seven Belarusian competitors have been cleared to compete as neutrals, amid discussions on potential reinstatement for future Games, including the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

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Ukraine Deactivates Russian Starlink Terminals, Disrupting Assaults

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Ukrainian forces have deactivated Starlink internet terminals being used by the Russian military on the battlefield, a move officials described as a major setback for Moscow. The deactivation disrupted Russian assault operations across multiple areas, affecting thousands of terminals that had previously enabled mobile and hard-to-intercept communications.

Ukraine coordinated with SpaceX to block unauthorized use of Starlink by Russian forces and established a “white list” of Ukrainian terminals to ensure uninterrupted service for its own operations. Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov confirmed that Russian terminals had already been blocked, with verification ongoing. SpaceX has not officially commented, though Elon Musk indicated prior measures to stop Russian use were effective.

The impact on Russian forces has been severe, according to Ukrainian advisers, with command and communications largely collapsing on the frontlines. Kyiv continues to rely on tens of thousands of Starlink connections for battlefield communication and drone operations, highlighting the strategic importance of satellite-based internet in modern warfare.

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Russian Comedian Jailed for Nearly Six Years Over Joke About War Veteran

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A Russian court has sentenced stand-up comedian Artemy Ostanin to nearly six years in prison for inciting hatred after a joke he made about a war veteran sparked public outrage. Ostanin was handed a jail term of five years and nine months along with a fine of 300,000 roubles, a Reuters reporter said, in one of the latest cases targeting speech deemed offensive to the military during Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The conviction stemmed from a March 2025 performance in which Ostanin joked about a war veteran who had lost his legs to a mine and was using a skateboard to get around, as well as referring to a wheelchair in derogatory terms. A video of the performance later went viral on Telegram after being shared by nationalist groups and military bloggers, who accused the comedian of mocking veterans fighting for the country.

Ostanin was also found guilty of offending the feelings of Christians over a separate joke about Jesus, drawing criticism from Orthodox nationalist organisations. After facing mounting backlash, he attempted to flee Russia but was arrested in Belarus and returned to Moscow to stand trial. Speaking in court after the verdict, Ostanin said he did not accept the ruling, calling the punishment excessive.

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Pope Leo Urges Russia and US to Renew New START Treaty

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Pope Leo XIV called on Russia and the United States to extend the New START nuclear arms control treaty, which limits the number of strategic nuclear weapons deployed by each country. Speaking at his weekly audience at the Vatican, the pope emphasized that the current global situation “calls for doing everything possible to avert a new arms race.”

Signed in 2010, the treaty is set to expire on Thursday. Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed an informal one-year extension in September, but as of Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump had not responded, raising concerns about the potential lapse of the agreement.

The pope described the renewal as urgent, stressing the need to replace “the logic of fear and distrust with a shared ethic” that prioritizes the common good. Letting the treaty expire would mark the end of over 50 years of nuclear weapons constraints, a significant step in global arms control.

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Musk Says Starlink Curbs on Russian Use Are Showing Results

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Elon Musk said on Sunday that steps taken by SpaceX to prevent Russia from using its Starlink satellite internet system without authorization appear to have been effective. His comments came after Ukraine reported finding Starlink terminals on long-range drones used in recent Russian attacks, raising concerns over misuse of the technology in the conflict.

Ukraine’s military relies heavily on Starlink for battlefield communications and for operating certain drone missions. Kyiv said it is working closely with SpaceX to stop any Russian access to the system. Posting on X, Musk said the measures introduced by the company had worked so far and added that SpaceX would take further action if needed.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said authorities are now developing a system that would allow only authorised Starlink terminals to function within Ukraine. He said initial steps had already delivered quick results in countering Russian drone operations. SpaceX has previously said it does not sell or ship Starlink to Russia and does not conduct any business with the Russian government or military.

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Russia, Ukraine Pause Energy Attacks but Clash Over Duration

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Russia and Ukraine said they have halted strikes on each other’s energy infrastructure, following a U.S.-backed de-escalation push, but sharply differed on how long the moratorium should last. The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin agreed to stop attacks on Ukrainian energy targets until February 1, while President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the pause took effect from Friday midnight and should last a full week. Both sides confirmed there were no energy strikes over the past 24 hours, though no formal ceasefire has been agreed.

Ukraine accused Russia of shifting tactics, saying Moscow had instead intensified attacks on logistics, including rail facilities, even as temperatures in Kyiv are forecast to plunge to minus 26 degrees Celsius. Hundreds of residential buildings in the capital remain without heating after weeks of earlier strikes. Zelenskiy also said Ukraine refrained from hitting Russian energy facilities in response, but warned that air defences have been weakened due to delays in receiving U.S.-supplied Patriot missiles.

Diplomatic efforts remain uncertain, with Zelenskiy saying it was unclear whether a planned meeting between Russian, Ukrainian and U.S. negotiators would go ahead as scheduled. Major sticking points include Russia’s demand that Ukraine cede territory in eastern regions and control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Despite limited progress in talks, fighting continues across the front lines, and many Ukrainians remain sceptical that the temporary energy truce will lead to a broader or lasting ceasefire.

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ECB Should Brace for New Shocks, Including Russian Threats: Simkus

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European Central Bank policymaker and Lithuanian central bank governor Gediminas Simkus said the ECB’s current policy stance is appropriate, with inflation at target and interest rates in a neutral zone, but warned that fresh shocks could disrupt this balance. Speaking to Reuters, Simkus highlighted persistent global uncertainty driven by geopolitical tensions, particularly the risk of Russian military aggression in eastern Europe, alongside trade frictions and other external pressures.

Simkus stressed that the ECB must ensure its systems are resilient to such risks, including safeguarding cash distribution and payment infrastructure in case of heightened security threats. He noted that countries bordering Russia face unique challenges, ranging from cyberattacks to airspace incursions, and argued that central banks must remain operationally prepared. He also added that banks need to be ready for longer-term risks such as climate change.

On monetary policy, Simkus said interest rates are firmly on hold at the ECB’s February meeting, as modest inflation fluctuations around 2% are normal. However, he cautioned against signalling future moves, saying the next rate change could equally be a hike or a cut. Emphasising flexibility, he said the ECB should avoid overreacting to short-term data swings and instead focus on broader economic trends, as shocks tend to affect growth before feeding into inflation.

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Russia Strikes Kyiv and Kharkiv, One Dead

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Russian forces launched attacks on Ukraine’s two largest cities, Kyiv and Kharkiv, early Saturday, resulting in one confirmed death and at least 15 injuries. In Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported fires in multiple districts along the Dnipro River, as power, heating, and water supplies were disrupted. Both drones and missiles were used in the assault, damaging a medical facility among other buildings.

In Kharkiv, approximately 30 km from the Russian border, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said 25 drones struck several districts over a two-and-a-half-hour period, hitting a dormitory for displaced persons, a hospital, and a maternity ward. At least 11 people were injured during the attacks. Emergency services continued working to restore essential utilities in freezing overnight temperatures.

The strikes came shortly after Ukraine, Russia, and US negotiators concluded the first day of talks in the UAE aimed at resolving the nearly four-year conflict. Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, the attacks underscore the continuing volatility and human toll in the conflict zones.

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France Seizes Suspected Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Oil Tanker in Mediterranean

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The French navy, with support from allied forces including the United Kingdom, has seized an oil tanker in the western Mediterranean Sea suspected of being part of Russia’s sanction-busting “shadow fleet”, officials announced on Thursday. The vessel, named Grinch, was intercepted between Spain and Morocco while sailing from Russia’s northern port of Murmansk under what authorities say was a false or irregular flag.

President Emmanuel Macron said the operation was carried out in accordance with international law and aimed at enforcing sanctions intended to curb revenue that helps finance Russia’s war against Ukraine. The tanker was boarded and diverted for further inspection after French maritime authorities confirmed doubts over its documentation. France’s maritime prosecutor in Marseille has launched a judicial investigation into the incident.

The UK provided key tracking and monitoring support through its naval assets as part of a broader effort to disrupt “shadow fleet” operations, which involve ageing tankers used to evade Western sanctions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the action and urged further measures to ensure sanctioned oil no longer funds Russia’s military operations. This marks another high-profile enforcement against vessels linked to sanctions evasion following similar actions by Western countries.

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