The arrival of Trump to the US Presidency continues to provoke changes in the Ukraine war. Ukrainians fear that the United States will cut off aid while the Russians watch expectantly for the next actions of the Republican. For now, Trump has stated that he is having "very constructive" conversations with Ukraine and Russia to end the conflict and emphasized that the ongoing "massacre" in Ukraine cannot be allowed to continue.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky states that he is willing to hold direct talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, along with other participants, to end the war that began almost three years ago with the Russian invasion. Ukraine struggles against Russian troops advancing in the country's east. Kiev also fears that US aid may run out, as Trump criticized this spending during his campaign.
Putin stated at the end of January that he was open to negotiating to end the conflict in Ukraine, although he refused to hold direct talks with Zelensky as he did not see "willingness" on his part. Russia demands the surrender of Ukraine and that the former Soviet republic refrain from joining NATO. Moscow also demands to retain the Ukrainian territories it claims to have annexed.
Russian agents sabotaged cars in Germany to blame the Greens, according to Der Spiegel
Berlin, Feb 5 (EFE).- Russian agents could be behind the sabotage of hundreds of cars in various regions of Germany in December last year with the aim of damaging the reputation of the Green party, and not climate activists as suspected until now, as reported by the weekly Der Spiegel on Wednesday.
According to security sources, around 270 private cars were sabotaged in Berlin, Brandenburg (east), Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg (south) at the end of last year, with their exhaust pipes blocked with polyurethane foam.
However, according to security sources, it was a deliberate campaign orchestrated from Moscow with the aim of sowing division and causing animosity against the Greens, one of the forces most supportive of military support for Ukraine.
Russia welcomes Trump's statements on concerns about bringing Ukraine closer to NATO
Russia welcomes the opinion of US President Donald Trump that bringing Ukraine closer to the NATO military alliance is a matter of concern for Moscow, said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday, as reported by Reuters.
IAEA postpones rotation of its mission to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) postponed the rotation of its mission to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, controlled by Russia, due to the lack of security guarantees from Russia, said the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, as reported by Reuters.
"This is not the first time that the Kremlin has used blackmail as a tool to intimidate international experts and undermine their independence," said a ministry spokesperson in a statement. "We will not allow Russia to undermine the independence and impartiality of the Agency to achieve its criminal goals."
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said he would visit Russia later this week to discuss the situation in Ukraine and at the Zaporizhzhia plant. "It is essential that, in fulfilling my duties, I maintain constant communication channels," Grossi said at a press conference in Kiev on Tuesday.
Ukraine attacks a fuel depot in the Russian region of Krasnodar Krai
Ukrainian authorities reported a new nighttime attack on energy infrastructure located inside the Russian Federation on Wednesday, specifically the Albashneft fuel depot in the Krasnodar Krai region in southwestern Russia.
"The attacked oil depot, Albashneft, in Krasnodar Krai, belongs to a refining company with the capacity to process up to 320,000 tons of oil per year," wrote Andrí Kovalenko, head of the Center against Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, on his Telegram channel.
Russia launches multiple military satellites with a single rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome
The Russian Aerospace Forces launched several military satellites with a single carrier rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the northwest of the country on Wednesday, as reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense on its Telegram channel, according to Efe.
"On February 5, 2025, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome (Arkhangelsk region), (...) the Aerospace Forces launched a light-class vehicle carrier 'Soyuz-2.1v' with spacecraft for the benefit of the Russian Ministry of Defense," the military statement said.
The Ukrainian army shot down 57 of the 104 drones launched by Russia overnight
The Ukrainian army said on Wednesday that Russia launched 104 drones and two Iskander-M ballistic missiles against Ukraine overnight, as reported by Reuters.
Of that number, the Ukrainian air force shot down 57, and 42 drones did not reach their targets, likely due to electronic warfare, the army said.
Zelensky once again declares willingness to share Ukraine's rare minerals with the US
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that he is willing to share with his main military and economic supporter, the United States, the rare minerals that Ukraine has underground, after the new US President, Donald Trump, requested access to these resources in exchange for continuing to offer defense assistance to Kiev, as reported by Efe.
"We are willing to develop these minerals with partners who help us defend our territory and repel the enemy with their weapons, presence, and packages of sanctions," said Zelensky at a joint press conference with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, held on Tuesday night in Kiev.
The Ukrainian head of state said it is "completely fair" for Trump to seek economic benefits from these Ukrainian resources. "I mentioned it in September (2024) when I met with President Trump," added Zelensky, warning that Russia and countries like North Korea will exploit these resources if Ukraine is unable to defend the territory where these mines are located.
A Ukrainian drone attack ignites an oil depot in Russia
An oil depot caught fire on Wednesday in the Krasnodar region in southwestern Russia after a drone attack, said the local governor, as reported by Afp.
The Russian armed forces "repelled a drone attack" whose remnants fell on an oil reserve in the town of Novominskaya, wrote Veniamin Kondratiev on Telegram. "A fire broke out," in which 55 firefighters are working, the governor noted, pointing out that there were no injuries.
British Foreign Secretary visits Kiev to provide further support to Ukraine
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy visits Kiev on Wednesday to provide new support to Ukraine to strengthen its energy ties, grain supply, and businesses, as reported by Efe.
This was announced by the Foreign Office in a statement, revealing that Lammy will see firsthand how British support is placing Ukraine in the strongest possible position as the country enters the fourth year of its conflict with Russia.
The note indicates that in line with commitments made two weeks ago to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, London will provide £3 million (€3.6 million) in deliveries of Ukrainian grain and other food products to Syria.