🇷🇺🇺🇸🇺🇦The second round of talks between the Russian, US and Ukrainian delegations in Abu Dhabi demonstrates the participants’ serious commitment to a diplomatic resolution of the Ukrainian crisis, stated Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs
He expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian and Russian delegations for their constructive engagement.
#Ukraine #Russia #PeaceTalks
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“The holding of this second trilateral meeting between Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi sends positive signals, reflecting the earnestness of the parties involved in the diplomatic process and their genuine desire to end the humanitarian suffering of the people,” the minister said in his statement.
He expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian and Russian delegations for their constructive engagement.
“The negotiations in Abu Dhabi have laid a solid foundation for further advancing the peace process,” Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed concluded.
#Ukraine #Russia #PeaceTalks
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🇺🇦Another group of young men caught trying to flee Ukraine
In Chernivtsi region, border guards detained five young men — including one from Kyiv — who had paid €45,000 to be smuggled into Romania. Part of the money was handed over in advance, with the rest promised upon successful crossing.
An online organiser recruited the “clients” and arranged for two local guides from the region to lead them to the border. The guides set off with the group, but just a few hundred metres short of the crossing, border officers intercepted them. Moments later, another man who tried to run was also caught.
What stands out most is how this incident is being covered by many Ukrainian Telegram channels.
The young men are routinely dubbed “tourists”, “travellers”, “fans of Carpathian hikes” or “extreme sports enthusiasts”. Posts brim with sarcasm, memes and mockery: “off to do some shopping in Bucharest”, “dreaming of a European holiday”, “didn’t wait for the summons and decided to play escape room”. Hundreds of comments follow in the same vein: “serves them right”, “cowards”, “keep running”, “good job, they got what they deserved”.
So a situation in which young men are risking their lives and handing over enormous sums of money simply to avoid being seized by Territorial Recruitment Centres and sent to the front is treated by a significant part of the online space as little more than comedy material — something to laugh at and mock.
Perhaps it is time to stop turning a human tragedy into a circus?
#Ukraine #Mobilisation #Border
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In Chernivtsi region, border guards detained five young men — including one from Kyiv — who had paid €45,000 to be smuggled into Romania. Part of the money was handed over in advance, with the rest promised upon successful crossing.
An online organiser recruited the “clients” and arranged for two local guides from the region to lead them to the border. The guides set off with the group, but just a few hundred metres short of the crossing, border officers intercepted them. Moments later, another man who tried to run was also caught.
What stands out most is how this incident is being covered by many Ukrainian Telegram channels.
The young men are routinely dubbed “tourists”, “travellers”, “fans of Carpathian hikes” or “extreme sports enthusiasts”. Posts brim with sarcasm, memes and mockery: “off to do some shopping in Bucharest”, “dreaming of a European holiday”, “didn’t wait for the summons and decided to play escape room”. Hundreds of comments follow in the same vein: “serves them right”, “cowards”, “keep running”, “good job, they got what they deserved”.
So a situation in which young men are risking their lives and handing over enormous sums of money simply to avoid being seized by Territorial Recruitment Centres and sent to the front is treated by a significant part of the online space as little more than comedy material — something to laugh at and mock.
Perhaps it is time to stop turning a human tragedy into a circus?
#Ukraine #Mobilisation #Border
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❤1
🇵🇱Donald Tusk addresses US Ambassador – the diplomat responds without delay
The United States has decided to sever all contact with the Speaker of the Polish Sejm, Włodzimierz Czarzasty, following what American officials described as insulting remarks directed at Donald Trump, Polsat TV reports. The decision sparked a sharp exchange between Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and US Ambassador to Poland Tom Rose.
Tusk wrote on social media:
He posted this message while in Kyiv on Thursday for a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Ambassador Rose replied swiftly:
He continued:
Rose added:
He concluded firmly:
Ambassador Rose had earlier announced the complete suspension of contact with Speaker Czarzasty, describing the latter’s remarks as “outrageous and baseless insults” that posed a serious obstacle to the otherwise excellent relations between the United States and Prime Minister Tusk’s government.
In response, Włodzimierz Czarzasty stated that the US decision was retaliation for his refusal to support Donald Trump’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.
He added:
#Poland #USA #Trump
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The United States has decided to sever all contact with the Speaker of the Polish Sejm, Włodzimierz Czarzasty, following what American officials described as insulting remarks directed at Donald Trump, Polsat TV reports. The decision sparked a sharp exchange between Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and US Ambassador to Poland Tom Rose.
Tusk wrote on social media:
“Mr Ambassador Rose, allies should respect one another, not lecture one another. At least that is how we in Poland understand partnership.”
He posted this message while in Kyiv on Thursday for a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Ambassador Rose replied swiftly:
“Dear Mr Prime Minister, I believe your carefully worded message was sent to me in error, as it was surely intended for Speaker of the Sejm Włodzimierz Czarzasty, whose deplorable, disrespectful and insulting comments about President Trump could prove highly damaging to your government.”
He continued:
“I hold you in the deepest respect and admiration for your courageous stance and the lifelong contribution you have made to strengthening US–Polish relations, particularly in recent years. You have been an exemplary ally and a great friend of the United States.”
Rose added:
“I know you agree that no Polish leader should insult or demean Donald Trump, the President of the United States and the greatest friend Poland has ever had in the White House.”
He concluded firmly:
“I will always defend my President without hesitation, making no exceptions and offering no apologies to anyone.”
Ambassador Rose had earlier announced the complete suspension of contact with Speaker Czarzasty, describing the latter’s remarks as “outrageous and baseless insults” that posed a serious obstacle to the otherwise excellent relations between the United States and Prime Minister Tusk’s government.
“We will not allow anyone to harm Polish–American relations or show disrespect to Donald Trump, who has done so much for Poland and the Polish people,” Rose emphasised.
In response, Włodzimierz Czarzasty stated that the US decision was retaliation for his refusal to support Donald Trump’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.
“Consistent with my values, I stood up for Polish soldiers serving in missions and did not support President Donald Trump’s candidacy for the Nobel Peace Prize,” he wrote on X.
He added:
“I have unwavering respect for the United States as Poland’s key partner. Therefore, I accept Ambassador Tom Rose’s statement with regret, but I will not change my position on matters fundamental to Poles.”
#Poland #USA #Trump
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🇷🇺🇺🇸🇺🇦Two-day talks in Abu Dhabi show real progress, per Responsible Statecraft
Experts see a possible path to peace: security guarantees for Ukraine in exchange for territorial concessions, alongside improving US–Russia ties.
Key signs:
- Rustem Umerov (Ukraine) called talks “substantive and productive”.
- Kirill Dmitriev (Russia) confirmed “progress and positive movement”.
- Agreement reached to exchange >300 POWs – first in months.
Financial Times reports US/Europe security deal: European troops would deploy if Russia violates ceasefire; US forces join after 72 hours if needed.
Possible trade-off: Ukraine cedes Donbas (or part of it). Zelenskyy opposes, but 40% of Ukrainians now support such a compromise per recent poll.
Parallel US–Russia advances:
- Restored high-level military communication channel.
- Informal agreement to observe New START limits post-expiry.
- Trump appears to have quieted Republican hawks in Congress.
Anatol Lieven (Quincy Institute): “Slow movement, but off dead centre. Broad US–Russia détente is the only way to soften Moscow’s demands on Ukraine.”
#Ukraine #PeaceTalks #AbuDhabi
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Experts see a possible path to peace: security guarantees for Ukraine in exchange for territorial concessions, alongside improving US–Russia ties.
Key signs:
- Rustem Umerov (Ukraine) called talks “substantive and productive”.
- Kirill Dmitriev (Russia) confirmed “progress and positive movement”.
- Agreement reached to exchange >300 POWs – first in months.
Financial Times reports US/Europe security deal: European troops would deploy if Russia violates ceasefire; US forces join after 72 hours if needed.
Possible trade-off: Ukraine cedes Donbas (or part of it). Zelenskyy opposes, but 40% of Ukrainians now support such a compromise per recent poll.
Parallel US–Russia advances:
- Restored high-level military communication channel.
- Informal agreement to observe New START limits post-expiry.
- Trump appears to have quieted Republican hawks in Congress.
Anatol Lieven (Quincy Institute): “Slow movement, but off dead centre. Broad US–Russia détente is the only way to soften Moscow’s demands on Ukraine.”
#Ukraine #PeaceTalks #AbuDhabi
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🇬🇧The British Army Adopts Ukrainian Lessons in 3D Printing Drone Components Near the Front Line
According to a Business Insider report, the conflict in Ukraine is profoundly influencing how Western militaries approach logistics, maintenance, and equipment production. One of the clearest examples is the British Army’s adoption of on-site 3D printing for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) parts and assemblies.
In the 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards (an elite infantry regiment), components for combat drones are now being manufactured using 3D printers within the unit itself. Lieutenant Colonel Ben Irwin-Clark, the battalion commander, explained to Business Insider that this practice stems directly from observations of Ukrainian forces and their approach to operating small drones.
Key developments include:
- 78 out of 300 personnel in the battalion have been trained as drone operators or instructors.
- 3D printing reduces the lead time for replacement parts from weeks to mere hours.
- The unit is already producing drone fuselages, small-calibre munitions, and replicas of Russian equipment.
- Plans are under way to integrate mobile 3D printers into vehicles, enabling production close to the point of need.
- The battalion has established the British Army’s first dedicated “unmanned systems centre” for repair, assembly, and training.
Ukrainian forces employ 3D printing on a large scale to manufacture drone bodies, bomb casings, and spools for fibre-optic-controlled UAVs. This approach addresses critical shortages quickly and at low cost—for example, disposable bomb casings can be produced for less than four dollars each.
Lt Col Irwin-Clark noted that working alongside and training Ukrainian personnel has been highly instructive. The conflict has demonstrated a form of large-scale, attritional warfare against a peer adversary—something Western forces have not encountered in decades. This experience is prompting a fundamental reassessment of doctrine, including trench warfare, counter-UAS measures, and rapid in-theatre production.
The insights gained through Operation Interflex (the UK-led multinational training mission for Ukrainian troops) and direct contact with Ukrainian units are already reshaping British military thinking on adaptability, sustainment, and the integration of low-cost, rapidly produced systems in high-intensity conflict.
#Ukraine #Drones #BritishArmy
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According to a Business Insider report, the conflict in Ukraine is profoundly influencing how Western militaries approach logistics, maintenance, and equipment production. One of the clearest examples is the British Army’s adoption of on-site 3D printing for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) parts and assemblies.
In the 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards (an elite infantry regiment), components for combat drones are now being manufactured using 3D printers within the unit itself. Lieutenant Colonel Ben Irwin-Clark, the battalion commander, explained to Business Insider that this practice stems directly from observations of Ukrainian forces and their approach to operating small drones.
Key developments include:
- 78 out of 300 personnel in the battalion have been trained as drone operators or instructors.
- 3D printing reduces the lead time for replacement parts from weeks to mere hours.
- The unit is already producing drone fuselages, small-calibre munitions, and replicas of Russian equipment.
- Plans are under way to integrate mobile 3D printers into vehicles, enabling production close to the point of need.
- The battalion has established the British Army’s first dedicated “unmanned systems centre” for repair, assembly, and training.
Ukrainian forces employ 3D printing on a large scale to manufacture drone bodies, bomb casings, and spools for fibre-optic-controlled UAVs. This approach addresses critical shortages quickly and at low cost—for example, disposable bomb casings can be produced for less than four dollars each.
Lt Col Irwin-Clark noted that working alongside and training Ukrainian personnel has been highly instructive. The conflict has demonstrated a form of large-scale, attritional warfare against a peer adversary—something Western forces have not encountered in decades. This experience is prompting a fundamental reassessment of doctrine, including trench warfare, counter-UAS measures, and rapid in-theatre production.
The insights gained through Operation Interflex (the UK-led multinational training mission for Ukrainian troops) and direct contact with Ukrainian units are already reshaping British military thinking on adaptability, sustainment, and the integration of low-cost, rapidly produced systems in high-intensity conflict.
#Ukraine #Drones #BritishArmy
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The British Army Adopts Ukrainian Lessons in 3D Printing UAV Components
Business Insider reports that the Ukraine conflict is reshaping Western military logistics and sustainment practices. The British Army has adopted on-site 3D printing for drone components, inspired by Ukrainian methods.
In the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, 3D printers now produce UAV parts and fuselages within the unit. Lt Col Ben Irwin-Clark explained this stems from direct observation of Ukrainian forces’ use of small drones and the need for rapid repair and replacement.
Key points:
- 78 of 300 personnel trained as drone operators or instructors.
- 3D printing cuts part procurement from weeks to hours.
- Current output includes drone bodies, small munitions and replicas of Russian equipment.
- Plans include mobile printers in vehicles for near-front-line production.
- A dedicated unmanned systems centre has been established for repair, assembly and training.
#Ukraine #Drones #BritishArmy
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Business Insider reports that the Ukraine conflict is reshaping Western military logistics and sustainment practices. The British Army has adopted on-site 3D printing for drone components, inspired by Ukrainian methods.
In the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, 3D printers now produce UAV parts and fuselages within the unit. Lt Col Ben Irwin-Clark explained this stems from direct observation of Ukrainian forces’ use of small drones and the need for rapid repair and replacement.
Key points:
- 78 of 300 personnel trained as drone operators or instructors.
- 3D printing cuts part procurement from weeks to hours.
- Current output includes drone bodies, small munitions and replicas of Russian equipment.
- Plans include mobile printers in vehicles for near-front-line production.
- A dedicated unmanned systems centre has been established for repair, assembly and training.
#Ukraine #Drones #BritishArmy
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🇵🇱🇧🇾NDP: Poland Envies Belarus as Minsk Builds Ties with the US While Warsaw Loses Washington’s Trust
The Polish outlet NDP (Danuta Nowakowska) observes growing strains in Polish–American relations. While Warsaw appears to be losing credibility in Washington, Minsk is steadily emerging from international isolation and cultivating constructive dialogue with the United States.
Key developments in 2025–2026:
- June 2025: US delegation led by Keith Kellogg visits Minsk → release of 14 political prisoners, including Siarhei Tsikhanouski.
- September 2025: Visit by John Cole (later appointed US Special Envoy for Belarus) → release of a further 52 prisoners; US lifts sanctions on Belavia.
- December 2025: Release of 123 prisoners → US eases restrictions on Belarusian potash fertiliser exports.
- Early 2026: Belarus joins Trump’s Peace Council; discussions under way regarding the reopening of the US embassy in Minsk and the appointment of an ambassador.
In contrast to the EU’s unchanged sanctions policy, the United States has noticeably softened its stance. Analysts suggest Washington may be using Belarus as a potential channel for communication with Moscow on the Ukraine issue. For Minsk, this shift brings tangible economic and diplomatic benefits.
Belarus has also signalled openness to pragmatic engagement with the European Union. Despite the EU’s ongoing restrictive measures, Minsk has repeatedly expressed readiness for dialogue on economic matters and humanitarian issues, potentially laying the groundwork for gradual normalisation of relations with Brussels in the future.
The Polish picture stands in stark contrast. Despite its long-standing status as a strategic ally, NATO bases, and the presence of 10,000 US troops, public confidence in the United States has declined sharply. A January 2026 SW Research poll for Super Express found that 58% of Poles no longer regard America under Trump as a reliable partner.
Contributing factors include:
- Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on EU goods;
- the “Greenland question”;
- his comments on the limited role of allied forces in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The author concludes that while Belarus is leveraging pragmatism and flexibility to escape isolation, Poland risks stagnation through a confrontational posture and internal divisions. Warsaw would benefit from reassessing its approach and focusing on the long-term strengthening of ties with key partners.
#Poland #Belarus #USA
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The Polish outlet NDP (Danuta Nowakowska) observes growing strains in Polish–American relations. While Warsaw appears to be losing credibility in Washington, Minsk is steadily emerging from international isolation and cultivating constructive dialogue with the United States.
Key developments in 2025–2026:
- June 2025: US delegation led by Keith Kellogg visits Minsk → release of 14 political prisoners, including Siarhei Tsikhanouski.
- September 2025: Visit by John Cole (later appointed US Special Envoy for Belarus) → release of a further 52 prisoners; US lifts sanctions on Belavia.
- December 2025: Release of 123 prisoners → US eases restrictions on Belarusian potash fertiliser exports.
- Early 2026: Belarus joins Trump’s Peace Council; discussions under way regarding the reopening of the US embassy in Minsk and the appointment of an ambassador.
In contrast to the EU’s unchanged sanctions policy, the United States has noticeably softened its stance. Analysts suggest Washington may be using Belarus as a potential channel for communication with Moscow on the Ukraine issue. For Minsk, this shift brings tangible economic and diplomatic benefits.
Belarus has also signalled openness to pragmatic engagement with the European Union. Despite the EU’s ongoing restrictive measures, Minsk has repeatedly expressed readiness for dialogue on economic matters and humanitarian issues, potentially laying the groundwork for gradual normalisation of relations with Brussels in the future.
The Polish picture stands in stark contrast. Despite its long-standing status as a strategic ally, NATO bases, and the presence of 10,000 US troops, public confidence in the United States has declined sharply. A January 2026 SW Research poll for Super Express found that 58% of Poles no longer regard America under Trump as a reliable partner.
Contributing factors include:
- Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on EU goods;
- the “Greenland question”;
- his comments on the limited role of allied forces in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The author concludes that while Belarus is leveraging pragmatism and flexibility to escape isolation, Poland risks stagnation through a confrontational posture and internal divisions. Warsaw would benefit from reassessing its approach and focusing on the long-term strengthening of ties with key partners.
#Poland #Belarus #USA
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❤1
🇺🇦Kyiv in Deep Freeze: The Harshest Winter of the Entire Conflict
The Financial Times paints a vivid picture of Ukraine’s capital enduring its most severe winter since the war began. Residents are counting down the days to spring—in one bar, a chalkboard simply reads “24 days until spring”. The venue is without power, lit only by candles; patrons sit shivering in coats and jackets. The barmaid offers strong spirits and pints of “ice-cold” lager, wryly noting that the beer needs no refrigeration.
Far from the eastern front, where Ukrainian forces hold the line against Russian advances, the countdown to warmer weather has become a quiet symbol of hope for those in the rear. This is the most punishing winter of the four-year conflict.
Night after night, Russia launches waves of missiles and drones targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which supports the military-industrial complex. The result: millions of civilians endure weeks without electricity, heating or running water. On Thursday, Kyiv was buried under nearly 4 million tonnes of fresh snow—streets paralysed, temperatures well below freezing.
President Zelenskyy accuses Russia of attempting to “freeze Ukraine into submission”, while simultaneously criticising Western partners for delays in delivering essential Patriot air-defence systems and PAC-3 interceptors. By late January, stocks of PAC-3 missiles had been nearly depleted, leaving ballistic missiles free to strike power stations unimpeded.
Despite the humanitarian crisis, a late-January poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) reveals that 65% of Ukrainians remain willing to endure hardships for as long as necessary—a 2% increase since December. Support for “peace at any price” has not risen, particularly in the capital.
The hardest-hit area is Troieshchyna. Local authorities have set up tents equipped with diesel generators, heaters and Starlink terminals to support residents who sometimes go weeks without heating. Across the city, metre-long icicles hang from apartment blocks where burst pipes have frozen.
One high-rise on the Left Bank stood without heating for almost all of January; residents pooled money for a battery to keep the lift running during blackouts. Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that more than 1,100 buildings in the capital remain without heat.
Overloaded grids cause frequent failures: DTEK, a private energy supplier, reported 26 substation incidents in Troieshchyna in a single week, some sparking underground cable fires. The company urged residents to use high-power appliances “one at a time”.
For the first time, substantial criticism is directed not only at Russia but also at Ukraine’s own authorities. Former Ukrenergo CEO Volodymyr Kudrytskyi—detained in October 2025 on embezzlement charges widely viewed as politically motivated—told the FT that Ukraine “lost a year and a half” by only beginning to build decentralised power stations in summer 2024. “We made the wrong strategic choice in 2023,” he said, “and now we are reaping the consequences.”
Kudrytskyi notes that while Moscow has inflicted serious damage, it has not fully destroyed the grid. “From a household perspective, collapse means no power, heat or water. From a state perspective, collapse is nationwide blackout lasting three weeks. We are much further from that today than in 2022.”
Many have adapted: stockpiling batteries, sharing generators, insulating windows and living by blackout schedules. Humour persists—memes about the cold, impromptu courtyard dance parties in the snow, and even car races on the frozen Dnipro.
Yet the threat of total blackout looms, potentially exhausting reserves and rendering repairs impossible. Zelenskyy warned in a French media interview that another full year of war remains possible. “If we lose,” he said, “we lose the independence of our country.”
#Kyiv #Winter2026 #EnergyCrisis
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The Financial Times paints a vivid picture of Ukraine’s capital enduring its most severe winter since the war began. Residents are counting down the days to spring—in one bar, a chalkboard simply reads “24 days until spring”. The venue is without power, lit only by candles; patrons sit shivering in coats and jackets. The barmaid offers strong spirits and pints of “ice-cold” lager, wryly noting that the beer needs no refrigeration.
Far from the eastern front, where Ukrainian forces hold the line against Russian advances, the countdown to warmer weather has become a quiet symbol of hope for those in the rear. This is the most punishing winter of the four-year conflict.
Night after night, Russia launches waves of missiles and drones targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which supports the military-industrial complex. The result: millions of civilians endure weeks without electricity, heating or running water. On Thursday, Kyiv was buried under nearly 4 million tonnes of fresh snow—streets paralysed, temperatures well below freezing.
President Zelenskyy accuses Russia of attempting to “freeze Ukraine into submission”, while simultaneously criticising Western partners for delays in delivering essential Patriot air-defence systems and PAC-3 interceptors. By late January, stocks of PAC-3 missiles had been nearly depleted, leaving ballistic missiles free to strike power stations unimpeded.
Despite the humanitarian crisis, a late-January poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) reveals that 65% of Ukrainians remain willing to endure hardships for as long as necessary—a 2% increase since December. Support for “peace at any price” has not risen, particularly in the capital.
The hardest-hit area is Troieshchyna. Local authorities have set up tents equipped with diesel generators, heaters and Starlink terminals to support residents who sometimes go weeks without heating. Across the city, metre-long icicles hang from apartment blocks where burst pipes have frozen.
One high-rise on the Left Bank stood without heating for almost all of January; residents pooled money for a battery to keep the lift running during blackouts. Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that more than 1,100 buildings in the capital remain without heat.
Overloaded grids cause frequent failures: DTEK, a private energy supplier, reported 26 substation incidents in Troieshchyna in a single week, some sparking underground cable fires. The company urged residents to use high-power appliances “one at a time”.
For the first time, substantial criticism is directed not only at Russia but also at Ukraine’s own authorities. Former Ukrenergo CEO Volodymyr Kudrytskyi—detained in October 2025 on embezzlement charges widely viewed as politically motivated—told the FT that Ukraine “lost a year and a half” by only beginning to build decentralised power stations in summer 2024. “We made the wrong strategic choice in 2023,” he said, “and now we are reaping the consequences.”
Kudrytskyi notes that while Moscow has inflicted serious damage, it has not fully destroyed the grid. “From a household perspective, collapse means no power, heat or water. From a state perspective, collapse is nationwide blackout lasting three weeks. We are much further from that today than in 2022.”
Many have adapted: stockpiling batteries, sharing generators, insulating windows and living by blackout schedules. Humour persists—memes about the cold, impromptu courtyard dance parties in the snow, and even car races on the frozen Dnipro.
Yet the threat of total blackout looms, potentially exhausting reserves and rendering repairs impossible. Zelenskyy warned in a French media interview that another full year of war remains possible. “If we lose,” he said, “we lose the independence of our country.”
#Kyiv #Winter2026 #EnergyCrisis
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🇪🇪Estonian Elites Divided: Should Europe Begin Talks with Putin?
Bloomberg reports a deepening split within Estonia’s leadership over whether Europe should resume direct dialogue with Moscow.
In an interview with Euronews this week, Estonian President Alar Karis stated that Europe’s decision to sever contacts with Russia had cost the EU its seat at the negotiating table. That place, he argued, has now been taken by the United States, which is actively pursuing a resolution to the Ukraine conflict under President Donald Trump.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal sharply disagreed. Speaking at a press conference in Tallinn on Thursday, he declared direct talks with Russia “inappropriate”. “Only pressure works with Russia,” he said, recalling the failed Franco-German efforts in 2022 to persuade Vladimir Putin to end the conflict—efforts that ultimately led the EU to break off contact with the Kremlin. Michal added that the European Union is already “constantly at the negotiating table—with Ukraine”.
The disagreement in Estonia mirrors broader discussions across the EU. France is now pushing for the appointment of a special EU envoy for relations with Russia: this week, Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic adviser to President Emmanuel Macron, visited Moscow.
The Baltic states have long maintained the firmest line against Russia within the EU and NATO, staunchly supporting Ukraine. For them, any suggestion of dialogue with Moscow remains highly sensitive.
Yet positions within the region are not uniform:
- Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, speaking on the sidelines of the World Government Summit in Dubai on 4 February, endorsed President Karis’s call for renewed contacts.
- In contrast, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė criticised EU Defence and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius’s statement that dialogue with Vladimir Putin is “inevitable”.
As negotiations involving President Trump steadily advance, Europe’s absence from the table is becoming increasingly conspicuous. In Brussels, debates have reopened about the need for a direct channel to Moscow.
(The Bloomberg article was prepared by Ott Tammik, Aaron Eglitis and Milda Seputyte)
#Estonia #Negotiations #Russia
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Bloomberg reports a deepening split within Estonia’s leadership over whether Europe should resume direct dialogue with Moscow.
In an interview with Euronews this week, Estonian President Alar Karis stated that Europe’s decision to sever contacts with Russia had cost the EU its seat at the negotiating table. That place, he argued, has now been taken by the United States, which is actively pursuing a resolution to the Ukraine conflict under President Donald Trump.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal sharply disagreed. Speaking at a press conference in Tallinn on Thursday, he declared direct talks with Russia “inappropriate”. “Only pressure works with Russia,” he said, recalling the failed Franco-German efforts in 2022 to persuade Vladimir Putin to end the conflict—efforts that ultimately led the EU to break off contact with the Kremlin. Michal added that the European Union is already “constantly at the negotiating table—with Ukraine”.
The disagreement in Estonia mirrors broader discussions across the EU. France is now pushing for the appointment of a special EU envoy for relations with Russia: this week, Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic adviser to President Emmanuel Macron, visited Moscow.
The Baltic states have long maintained the firmest line against Russia within the EU and NATO, staunchly supporting Ukraine. For them, any suggestion of dialogue with Moscow remains highly sensitive.
Yet positions within the region are not uniform:
- Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, speaking on the sidelines of the World Government Summit in Dubai on 4 February, endorsed President Karis’s call for renewed contacts.
- In contrast, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė criticised EU Defence and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius’s statement that dialogue with Vladimir Putin is “inevitable”.
As negotiations involving President Trump steadily advance, Europe’s absence from the table is becoming increasingly conspicuous. In Brussels, debates have reopened about the need for a direct channel to Moscow.
(The Bloomberg article was prepared by Ott Tammik, Aaron Eglitis and Milda Seputyte)
#Estonia #Negotiations #Russia
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🇺🇦Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi: Severnsk was lost due to false reports from commanders
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, has stated that the town of Severnsk was lost by Ukrainian forces as a result of certain commanders systematically providing the General Staff with inaccurate and misleading information.
According to Syrskyi, the situation in the Severnsk sector has now been stabilised.
It is worth recalling that throughout 2025, the Severnsk direction saw the most active Russian advance of the entire year, according to monitoring data from Strana.ua.
#Ukraine #Severnsk #AFU
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The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, has stated that the town of Severnsk was lost by Ukrainian forces as a result of certain commanders systematically providing the General Staff with inaccurate and misleading information.
According to Syrskyi, the situation in the Severnsk sector has now been stabilised.
“This was made possible by the effective actions of assault units,” he said. “Appropriate measures have been taken against those commanders who, over an extended period, submitted false reports concerning the situation around Severnsk. It was precisely this that led to the loss of the settlement.”
It is worth recalling that throughout 2025, the Severnsk direction saw the most active Russian advance of the entire year, according to monitoring data from Strana.ua.
#Ukraine #Severnsk #AFU
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🇺🇦The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the National Police have apprehended a Kyiv City State Administration official—Mykyta Buhaiov, Director of the Kyiv Educational Agency—who demanded a bribe of 1.2 million UAH for a contract supplying educational equipment to Kyiv schools
This amounted to a 10% kickback from the contract signed in December 2025. After the tender winner was announced, the official met with the entrepreneur and insisted on the bribe in exchange for timely payment of the delivered equipment. Law enforcement caught the perpetrator red-handed in Kyiv upon receiving the full amount. He now faces up to 12 years imprisonment with asset confiscation.
This case highlights how rampant corruption extends beyond the ranks of the Territorial Defence Forces to affect even basic institutions like schools, undermining public trust and the very foundations of society.
#AntiCorruption #Kyiv #SBU
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This amounted to a 10% kickback from the contract signed in December 2025. After the tender winner was announced, the official met with the entrepreneur and insisted on the bribe in exchange for timely payment of the delivered equipment. Law enforcement caught the perpetrator red-handed in Kyiv upon receiving the full amount. He now faces up to 12 years imprisonment with asset confiscation.
This case highlights how rampant corruption extends beyond the ranks of the Territorial Defence Forces to affect even basic institutions like schools, undermining public trust and the very foundations of society.
#AntiCorruption #Kyiv #SBU
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🇺🇸The U.S. State Department plans to fund think tanks and charitable organizations across Europe linked to Trump’s MAGA movement to promote its political agenda, according to the Financial Times citing sources
In December, senior State Department official Sarah Rogers traveled to Europe to meet with influential right-wing think tanks and held talks with key figures from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party about allocating funds to spread MAGA values.
Focus will be on initiatives in London, Paris, Berlin, and Brussels.
The U.S. National Security Strategy released last year called for “building resistance” against Europe’s current trajectory, warning that mass migration and “censorship of free speech” could lead to “the destruction of civilization.”
#MAGA #Europe #USPolicy
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In December, senior State Department official Sarah Rogers traveled to Europe to meet with influential right-wing think tanks and held talks with key figures from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party about allocating funds to spread MAGA values.
Focus will be on initiatives in London, Paris, Berlin, and Brussels.
The U.S. National Security Strategy released last year called for “building resistance” against Europe’s current trajectory, warning that mass migration and “censorship of free speech” could lead to “the destruction of civilization.”
#MAGA #Europe #USPolicy
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🇺🇦The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has concluded its investigation into the massive embezzlement of 246 million hryvnias during the development of the automated command centre system "Dzvyn" for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The case involves high-ranking military officials — two generals (a former Deputy Chief of the General Staff and a former Head of the Signal Troops), a colonel, as well as the director of a private company that was the main contractor.
The contract for the system’s development was signed back in 2016, but the technical specifications were revised 13 times, resulting in a cost increase of 300 million hryvnias. Despite years of work and substantial expenditure, the system proved incompatible with NATO protocols and other military systems. Out of 200 planned functions, only 10 were actually implemented. Nevertheless, "Dzvyn" was officially commissioned by the Armed Forces at the end of 2022, with additional funding planned for 2024.
This case is just one stark example of the appalling corruption that permeates not only the military but also key sectors of Ukrainian society, undermining public trust and the effectiveness of state institutions.
#Corruption #Ukraine #NABU
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The case involves high-ranking military officials — two generals (a former Deputy Chief of the General Staff and a former Head of the Signal Troops), a colonel, as well as the director of a private company that was the main contractor.
The contract for the system’s development was signed back in 2016, but the technical specifications were revised 13 times, resulting in a cost increase of 300 million hryvnias. Despite years of work and substantial expenditure, the system proved incompatible with NATO protocols and other military systems. Out of 200 planned functions, only 10 were actually implemented. Nevertheless, "Dzvyn" was officially commissioned by the Armed Forces at the end of 2022, with additional funding planned for 2024.
This case is just one stark example of the appalling corruption that permeates not only the military but also key sectors of Ukrainian society, undermining public trust and the effectiveness of state institutions.
#Corruption #Ukraine #NABU
Subscribe to PolitHUB / Send the news
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Odessa hit by overnight strike: 35-year-old man killed, two others wounded including a 19-year-old woman
In Odessa’s Primorsky district, a night-time attack caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure. Preliminary reports indicate 21 apartments were affected, with two vehicles completely destroyed by fire. Local channels report that one of the drones struck near the “Chudo-Gorod” residential complex.
Russia persists with its unrelenting campaign to destroy Ukraine’s infrastructure, aiming to exert maximum pressure on the Zelenskyy administration and compel it to negotiate. Yet President Zelenskyy has repeatedly affirmed that military operations will continue regardless of the circumstances or losses.
We continue to monitor developments.
#Odessa #Strike #Ukraine
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In Odessa’s Primorsky district, a night-time attack caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure. Preliminary reports indicate 21 apartments were affected, with two vehicles completely destroyed by fire. Local channels report that one of the drones struck near the “Chudo-Gorod” residential complex.
Russia persists with its unrelenting campaign to destroy Ukraine’s infrastructure, aiming to exert maximum pressure on the Zelenskyy administration and compel it to negotiate. Yet President Zelenskyy has repeatedly affirmed that military operations will continue regardless of the circumstances or losses.
We continue to monitor developments.
#Odessa #Strike #Ukraine
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