Melania Trump confirmed that she is in contact with Putin's representatives to expedite the return of Ukrainian children. Thanks to her efforts, 15 children have already been returned to Ukraine.
The released US Department of Justice documents in the Jeffrey Epstein case indicate his numerous attempts to establish contact with Vladimir Putin. The Russian leader's name is mentioned over 1,000 times in the case materials.
Russian troops attacked the Kyiv region with drones, as a result of which a man in the Vyshhorod district suffered a lacerated wound to the chest. One private house was damaged, and the aftermath is being eliminated.
The lower house of the Czech parliament rejected the opposition's proposal to dismiss the coalition led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. The attempt to declare a vote of no confidence garnered only 84 votes, allowing the current cabinet to remain in power.
German company Stark has signed a contract to supply Virtus drones to a NATO country. The first drones will be delivered to the customer in February 2026, with full contract execution planned by the end of August.
Ukrzaliznytsia is changing the format of transportation in the Sumy region due to the security situation, introducing a "train plus bus" scheme. Train No. 896/895 will run between Krolevets and Fastiv, and passengers will be transported to Shostka by buses.
Two Ukrainian companies became the only foreign finalists of the Pentagon's Drone Dominance Program. They will compete for contracts worth $1.1 billion, supplying drones to the US Army.
French President Emmanuel Macron's chief diplomatic advisor, Emmanuel Bonne, visited Moscow. The purpose of the visit was to secure Europe a seat at the negotiating table regarding the security architecture and the end of the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine has lost 55,000 soldiers in the war against Russia. A large number of people are still considered missing.
Russian Z-channels report mass disconnections of Starlink terminals at the front, which, according to them, allegedly affect both sides of the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hopes for peace to be achieved in less than a year. He emphasized that defeat in the war would mean the loss of Ukraine's independence.
Since the beginning of the day, 110 combat engagements have taken place at the front. The enemy used 3875 kamikaze drones and carried out 2995 shellings.
President Zelenskyy stated that Russia would need two years and 800,000 fallen soldiers to seize Donbas. He noted that freezing the war along the front line would be a concession from Ukraine.
Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that the energy situation remains difficult, and the generation deficit is significant. There is a risk of worsening power outage schedules due to recent strikes and Russia's preparation for new attacks.
President Zelenskyy stated that Russia involved over 122 vessels managed by European owners in oil trade in 2025. He emphasized the need for more active European opposition to the Russian tanker fleet.
The International Criminal Court has received a request to arrest Russian officials for strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The request came from Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys.
In the first quarter, Ukraine will receive 140 million euros in loans and 21 million euros in grants from the EU for dual-use technologies. This funding is part of the systemic build-up of the country's defense capabilities.
President Zelenskyy reported on the Ukrainian delegation's briefing regarding the interim results of the trilateral negotiations in the UAE. Rustem Umerov, Kyrylo Budanov, and David Arakhamia participated in the meeting.
54. 2% of Ukrainians believe that the election campaign has de facto begun. Volodymyr Zelenskyy leads in the presidential rating with 22.3%, and Zaluzhnyi's party tops the party rating.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced an anticipated prisoner exchange. This step will allow the prisoners to return home.
Pope Leo XIV called for prayers for Ukrainians suffering from the consequences of attacks on energy infrastructure. He also expressed gratitude for the solidarity initiatives from Catholic dioceses in Poland and other countries.
On February 5, hourly power outage schedules and capacity restrictions will be in effect in all regions of Ukraine. This is a consequence of Russian attacks on energy facilities.
The Cabinet of Ministers has instructed the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection to monitor the recalculation of utility payments. This applies to heating, water supply, and waste removal from January 1.
Ukrainians generally perceived the personnel reshuffles as an opportunity and a source of restrained hope, but not as a genuine system renewal, against the backdrop of fragmented trust, high disapproval ratings, and a sense of an early start to the election campaign.
The head of the Kryvyi Rih Defense Council, Oleksandr Vilkul, reported a ballistic missile attack on the city. Further missile launches are possible.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio believes that Ukraine has the potential to double its GDP over the next decade. This is possible with the right economic steps and the use of critical minerals.
The Prague District Court sentenced a tram driver to 200 hours of community service for a conflict with a Ukrainian couple. He must undergo re-education and pay 55,000 CZK in compensation.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the Trump administration has made significant progress in negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. The list of unresolved issues has significantly decreased, but the most difficult ones remain.
The demographic situation in Russia is deteriorating, creating risks for the economy and stability. By 2040, the country could become a "society of elderly people," where the median resident will be a woman aged 50-55.
The US President believes that many positive results related to President Xi Jinping and the People's Republic of China will be achieved within the next three years.
