Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told a media conference Monday that relations with Washington “are balancing on the brink of a breakup” and reiterated that the war in Ukraine would last until Kyiv drops its ambitions to join NATO and withdraws from the four regions occupied by Russian forces.
In remarks suggesting Moscow is maintaining its tough negotiating stance, Ryabkov said that “we simply imperatively need to get … the new U.S. administration to understand and acknowledge that without resolving the problems that are the root causes of the crisis in Ukraine, it will not be possible to reach an agreement.”
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.Getty Images
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the same day that he would “neither confirm nor deny” Trump’s comments to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday that he and Putin had spoken in his first officially acknowledged contact with the Russian leader since 2022.
Referring to his contact with the Russian leader, Trump told reporters, “let’s just say I’ve had it … and I expect to have many more conversations. We have to get that war ended.”
“I hate to see all these young people being killed. The soldiers are being killed by the hundreds of thousands,” he said, but declined to provide any more details about how many times the two had spoken, responding, “I’d better not say.”
The remarks from Trump and spokespeople for the Kremlin come at a crucial juncture for the war in Ukraine, with Kyiv and its European neighbors nervously awaiting details of Trump’s peace plan to end the conflict that Russia launched with its full-scale invasion three years ago.
A woman looks out from the destroyed balcony of an apartment in the Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Makiivka on Sunday.AFP – Getty Images
Referring to Trump’s remarks Sunday, Keir Giles, a senior fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the London think-tank Chatham House, said “it would be tempting to think that this was all part of a careful plan for not releasing information too early in order not to bridge this process.”
“Or it could simply be that, as seems to be the case with Trump’s earlier promises of immediate action to bring the conflict to an end, that there isn’t, in fact, a plan yet,” he told NBC News.
Giles added that more clarity on the situation may come later this week, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy due to attend the high-profile Munich Security Conference, which senior U.S. officials are also attending.
Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday that the U.S. officials would be “talking through the details of how to end this war and that will mean getting both sides to the table.”
Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet at Trump Tower in New York last year.Shannon Stapleton / Reuters file
Ryabkov’s comments today came after Zelenskyy told the British broadcaster ITV last week that he was ready to hold talks with Russia as long as “I had an understanding that America and Europe will not abandon us and they will support us and provide security guarantees.”
The Ukrainian leader also told Reuters on Sunday that it was important he meets Trump before any negotiations with Putin, “otherwise, it will look like a dialogue about Ukraine without Ukraine.”
A Russian drone attack on Kyiv late Sunday injured a woman and damaged several houses in the northeastern city of Sumy, Ukrainian officials said Monday.
Relations between the United States and Russia have reached a critical point, with the Russian government declaring that they are on the brink of collapse. This statement comes as Russian officials refuse to confirm President Trump’s claim that he had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The escalating tensions between the two countries have raised concerns about the future of diplomatic relations and the potential for further conflict. The lack of communication and transparency between the two leaders only adds to the uncertainty surrounding the situation.
As the world watches closely to see how this situation unfolds, it is clear that the relationship between the United States and Russia is at a crossroads. The actions and decisions made in the coming days will have far-reaching implications for global politics and security.
North Korean troops deployed to Russia have proven capable and fierce.
Russia is using them in high-cost “human wave” assaults.
The conflict is an opportunity for North Korea to learn modern warfare tactics and adapt.
North Korea’s soldiers are relentless, almost fanatical, in the face of death. They’re determined and capable in battle, even in an unfamiliar fight, and their tactics are outdated but brutal.
That’s what the West has learned watching Kim Jong Un’s army in action after Russian President Vladimir Putin turned to the North Korean leader to supply fighters for his war on Ukraine.
Pyongyang deployed 11,000 men to Kursk in November disguised as Russian soldiers and carrying fake IDs. These troops are largely special operations forces, meaning they are more ardent in their beliefs and better trained than other units.
Russia has been pushing the North Koreans headlong into bloody assaults. The costs are high, but Kim’s army is learning an important lesson in return: how to fight a modern war.
North Korea sent some of its best soldiers
North Korea’s forces fighting in Russia have been training with Moscow on different elements of the war, including how to counter drones.
Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File
This war is North Korea’s largest military deployment to a foreign conflict in its almost 80-year history. To determine what the West is learning from this moment, Business Insider spoke to experts who have been closely following North Korea’s performance, examined publicly released intelligence, and reviewed Ukrainians’ observations.
Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence services have said that many of the troops that deployed to Russia are some of Pyongyang’s best, drawn from the 11th Corps, also known as the Storm Corps. The unit is trained in infiltration, infrastructure sabotage, and assassinations.
Ukraine’s top general, Oleksandr Syrsky, has said the North Korean troops are “highly motivated, well-trained,” and “brave.” And the Pentagon said this month that “these are relatively well-disciplined, competent forces” that are by all accounts “capable.”
Some Ukrainian soldiers have relayed their experiences to Western media, describing the troops as fast and nimble, good shots, and seemingly fearless as they rush into battle despite heavy losses. North Korean soldiers have also been found carrying diaries with written dedications to Kim and their country.
“They, as individuals, are more skilled as soldiers, more disciplined as soldiers, more willing to fight as soldiers than some sources had presumed when they were first being sent there,” said Joseph Bermudez, an expert on North Korea’s armed forces at the Center for International and Strategic Studies.
Ukraine has said North Korean troops are proving to be capable and fierce foes.
Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images
North Korea’s culture is driven by a martial philosophy that celebrates hard military power, and it maintains one of the world’s largest standing armies with around 1.2 million soldiers.
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The country’s direct entry into the war has complicated the situation for the Ukrainians, particularly in Russia’s Kursk region where Ukraine is struggling to hold captured ground. Ukraine has lost roughly half of the territory it once held inside Russia, and the relentless human wave attacks and brutal assaults have worn down Ukraine’s already strained defenses, depriving Kyiv’s forces of time to rest and brace for further attacks.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said last month that North Korea may be planning to deploy additional forces and military equipment to Russia.
Pyongyang has denied sending troops to Russia, and Kyiv has said Russian and North Korean forces attempt to remove dead North Korean soldiers from the battlefield or even burn the faces of dead North Koreans to make them difficult to identify.
Russia is sending North Korean soldiers into bloody assaults
Western assessments have said Russia is wasting both its own soldiers and North Korean troops in massive, devastating assaults.
KIM WON JIN/AFP via Getty Images
Russia has been sending the North Korean forces into very high-casualty front-line assaults. Biden’s White House said late last month that “it is clear that Russian and North Korean military leaders are treating these troops as expendable and ordering them on hopeless assaults against Ukrainian defenses.”
A White House spokesperson previously described the North Koreans as “highly indoctrinated, pushing attacks even when it is clear that those attacks are futile.”
The Trump administration did not respond to a request for comment on its assessment of North Korean forces fighting in Russia.
Ukraine’s Special Operation Forces said Friday the North Koreans fighting for Russia had not been seen in the Kursk area for around three weeks and had likely been withdrawn because of heavy combat losses. BI was unable to independently confirm these details.
North Korean forces in Ukraine have often opted to kill themselves rather than be captured alive.
Kim Jae-Hwan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
On the front lines, Ukrainian soldiers have said that the North Koreans are a capable fighting force that is adept at neutralizing drones. The soldiers are ruthlessly tough and determined, relentlessly pushing forward in “human wave” assaults, using fellow soldiers as bait, and casting aside armor for faster infantry movements. And they refuse to surrender, often opting to kill themselves with a grenade or bullet rather than be captured.
This is a defining element of the North Korean special operations training: Soldiers are trained to follow orders aggressively, even if they suspect it will cost them their lives. If they disobey orders or fail without sacrifice, their families could suffer the consequences, Bermudez said.
North Korea is learning lessons in modern warfare
Despite the war’s high cost, North Korea is learning from its involvement.
The soldiers “have been observed engaging in light infantry operations of a Second World War vintage — one man draws out enemy fire (in this case, drones) to locate a target, and others attempt to neutralize said target,” said Michael Madden, a Stimson Center Korea expert. They have not prepared for a mechanized battlefield like Ukraine’s, filled with armored vehicles and tanks.
“They’ve been trained to fight a war on the Korean Peninsula,” Bermudez said, and while North Korea has watched various armed conflicts closely over the decades, its forces are now getting a real taste for it on a battlefield and in an environment they haven’t been prepping for.
In the short term, that could have devastating consequences for the North Korean forces fighting for the Russians. The Institute for the Study of War think tank has said that the entire 11,000-man contingent of North Korean forces could be killed or wounded in action by April if the current casualty rate continues. The latest estimates put losses at about 4,000.
Time will tell how North Korea implements what it’s learned from the Ukraine war.
Alexander NEMENOV / AFP
North Korea may consider these sacrifices worth it — if not for the Russian cause, then for what it learns in return.
“It is a dark version of the concept of ‘you learn by doing,’” Madden said, while noting it’s still early. “We will need further incidents and engagements to make more sound observations as to whether they are adjusting their tactics given the state of play in Russia and Ukraine.”
But there’s no doubt they’re learning, acquiring knowledge critical for future conflicts that will make North Korea a more challenging combat force in East Asia. They’re seeing the Ukrainian use of US- and Western-provided weapons systems, such as HIMARS and Abrams, for example, and how the Russians have adapted to them.
“They’re bringing these lessons home in the hardest way possible: by bleeding for them,” Bermudez said.
As tensions continue to rise between Russia and Ukraine, a new and unexpected player has entered the battlefield: North Korean troops fighting for Russia. This revelation has left many in the West shocked and intrigued, as North Korea is typically known for its isolationist policies and secretive military.
Reports have emerged of North Korean soldiers being deployed to Ukraine to assist Russian forces in the ongoing conflict. While the exact number of troops involved is unknown, it is clear that North Korea is playing a role in the conflict that goes beyond mere diplomatic support.
This development has raised a number of questions in the West. How did North Korean troops end up fighting in Ukraine? What does this say about the relationship between North Korea and Russia? And perhaps most importantly, what does this mean for the future of the conflict in Ukraine?
As the situation continues to unfold, it is clear that the West has much to learn about the role of North Korean troops in the conflict. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
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North Korean troops, Russia, West, North Korea, military, conflict, international relations, foreign fighters, North Korean soldiers, alliance, battle, propaganda, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, NATO, Asia-Pacific region, world news
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi on Feb. 3 named Ukraine’s operation in Russia’s Kursk Oblast and strikes against military facilities deep inside Russian territory as Kyiv’s key battlefield priorities.
“We continue effectively destroying Russia’s military facilities to reduce its strike potential. We are destroying Russian forces both in Ukraine and Russia,” Syrskyi wrote on social media.
The commander outlined Ukraine’s key priorities, including holding defensive lines, preventing Russian advances, and enhancing the use of unmanned systems.
“On the ground, first of all, we saturate units holding the defenses at the front line with personnel and equipment,” Syrskyi said. He stressed the need to improve recruitment and psychological support for soldiers and better integrate newcomers from training centers before they undertake combat missions.
Ukraine has intensified its long-range drone strikes on Russian oil facilities in the past weeks, aiming to disrupt fuel supplies to the Russian military and weaken Moscow’s energy export revenues. Oil profits remain a key source of funding for Russia’s war effort.
In Kursk Oblast, Ukrainian forces have been holding positions since the start of the cross-border incursion in August 2024, reportedly seizing around 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of Russian territory.
While Ukraine has since then lost roughly half of the captured area, fighting continues as Kyiv seeks to leverage its presence in Kursk Oblast in potential negotiations.
Syrskyi also highlighted the importance of strengthening military training and improving recruitment and psychological support for troops. He also reported progress in reforming the Armed Forces’ organizational structure, including a shift to a corps-based system.
Syrskyi earlier described Russia’s ongoing offensive as “one of the most powerful” since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Despite persistent attacks, Russian forces have not achieved a significant breakthrough, though Ukrainian defenses remain under pressure across multiple sectors.
“February will not be easy for our troops, but Russia will also have a hard time. I have assigned tasks to the relevant commands and military authorities,” Syrskyi added.
The Kursk operation, long-range strikes in Russia, has been a topic of concern for Ukraine as tensions continue to rise in the region. In a recent statement, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Syrskyi outlined the country’s priorities in response to the escalating situation.
Syrskyi emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong defensive posture while also being prepared to take offensive action if necessary. He highlighted the need for increased coordination with NATO allies and other international partners to ensure a unified response to any potential threats.
The Defense Minister also stressed the importance of modernizing Ukraine’s military capabilities, including investing in advanced long-range strike capabilities to deter aggression from Russia. He emphasized the need for a robust and agile defense force that can effectively respond to any threats to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
As tensions continue to escalate in the region, Ukraine remains vigilant and prepared to defend itself against any potential threats. The Kursk operation serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges facing the country, but Syrskyi’s outline of priorities underscores Ukraine’s commitment to ensuring its security and stability in the face of external threats.
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Kursk operation, long-range strikes, Russia, Syrskyi, Ukraine, priorities, military strategy, World War II, Soviet Union, Eastern Front, battle tactics, historical analysis, military history
U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that members of his administration are already in talks with Russian authorities about ending Moscow’s war on Ukraine.
“We will be speaking, and I think we’ll perhaps do something that’ll be significant,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We want to end that war,” he said, referring to the conflict in Ukraine.
Trump did not specify which members of his administration were in talks with Russian officials or describe the nature of those conversations, only saying that “we are having discussions… already talking, yes.”
When asked whether he had personally spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone, Trump told reporters: “I don’t want to say that.”
“We are having very serious discussions about that war. We’re trying to get it ended,” the U.S. president said.
Trump also repeated past claims that Russia would not have launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine had he been in office, claims that Putin repeated last month in an interview with Russian state media.
Earlier, Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg told Fox News that both Kyiv and Moscow would need to make concessions in talks to end the war.
“I think both sides will give a little bit,” Kellog said in an interview, suggesting that both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Putin would “soften” their positions about territorial claims.
Russian forces occupy large swaths of land in eastern and southern Ukraine, and Moscow annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014. Ukrainian troops, meanwhile, have controlled parts of Russia’s southwestern Kursk region since August.
On the campaign trail, before he won the U.S. presidential election in November, Trump boasted that he could end the war in Ukraine before taking office. However, the White House is now reportedly working on a “100-day peace plan” for bringing an end to the conflict.
Putin said last month that he was ready to meet with Trump to discuss the war in Ukraine, as well as other “areas of interest to both the U.S. and Russia.”
In a recent statement, former President Donald Trump revealed that the United States and Russia are engaged in ‘serious’ discussions regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Trump, who has maintained close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressed optimism about the potential for a peaceful resolution to the war.
The conflict in Ukraine, which has been ongoing since 2014, has resulted in thousands of deaths and has caused significant tensions between Russia and Western countries. Trump’s announcement of discussions between the U.S. and Russia comes as a glimmer of hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
While details of the discussions have not been disclosed, Trump’s statement indicates that both countries are actively working towards finding a solution to the conflict. The former President’s involvement in these discussions highlights his continued influence in international affairs, even after leaving office.
As the situation in Ukraine continues to escalate, the world will be watching closely to see how these discussions between the U.S. and Russia unfold. The potential for a peaceful resolution to the conflict remains uncertain, but Trump’s announcement signals a step in the right direction.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Competing claims emerged over a deadly attack on a boarding school in Sudzha, a city in Russia’s Kursk region that has been under Ukrainian control for five months, with Ukraine and Russia accusing each other of carrying out the strike.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said Saturday night that four people were killed and a further four seriously wounded in the strike, with 84 people rescued by Ukrainian servicemen from the rubble of the building. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Moscow had bombed the boarding school where civilians were sheltering and preparing to evacuate.
The General Staff said those in need of additional medical assistance were evacuated to medical facilities in Ukraine.
The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed in the early hours of Sunday that it was Ukrainian forces that had launched a missile strike on the school, saying that the missiles were launched from Ukraine’s Sumy region.
Meanwhile, the death toll from a Russian missile strike on an apartment block in the Ukrainian city of Poltava on Saturday rose to 14, including two children, local officials said Sunday. Seventeen people were injured in the attack on the five-story building, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said.
Moscow sent 55 drones into Ukraine overnight into Sunday, Ukrainian officials said. According to Ukraine’s Air Force, 40 drones were destroyed during the overnight attacks. A further 13 drones were “lost”, likely having been electronically jammed.
Two people were wounded in a drone attack in the Kharkiv region, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said Sunday.
In Russia, the Defense Ministry said that five Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight in five regions of western Russia: three over the Kursk region, and one each over the Belgorod and Bryansk regions.
A man was killed in a drone strike in the Belgorod region, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said.
In a recent incident that has heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, both countries are trading blame over an attack on a boarding school in Russia’s Kursk region. The attack, which occurred on Tuesday morning, resulted in the death of several students and teachers, as well as the destruction of the school building.
Russian authorities have accused Ukrainian forces of carrying out the attack, citing evidence of missile fragments and other military equipment found at the scene. They have called the incident a “terrorist act” and have vowed to retaliate against those responsible.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has denied any involvement in the attack and has accused Russia of fabricating evidence to frame them. Ukrainian officials have called for an independent investigation into the incident and have called on the international community to condemn Russia’s actions.
The attack on the boarding school in the Kursk region has further escalated tensions between Russia and Ukraine, which have been at odds since the annexation of Crimea in 2014. The international community is closely monitoring the situation and calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
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Russia, Ukraine, attack, boarding school, Kursk region, blame, conflict, international relations, Russia-Ukraine tensions, school violence, diplomatic tensions
Ukraine and Russia have traded blame for a deadly missile strike that killed at least four people in the dormitory of a boarding school situated in a part of Russia’s Kursk region held by Ukrainian forces.
Some of the war’s fiercest battles in recent months have been taking place in the Kursk region that borders Ukraine, where Kyiv forces have held swathes of the land since staging a major cross-border incursion last August.
Ukraine’s armed forces said on the Telegram messaging app that Russia launched an aerial bomb from Russian territory that struck a boarding school in Sudzha, killing at least four. The boarding school housed people preparing for evacuation.
As of 10pm (2000 GMT) on Saturday, 84 people had been rescued or received medical assistance, the statement said. Four of the injured were in a serious condition. Rescue efforts to clear rubble were proceeding.
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said the attack on Sudzha, about 7.5 miles (12km) from the border with Ukraine, showed how Russia fights the war.
“They destroyed the building even though dozens of civilians were there,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. “This is how Russia waged war against Chechnya decades ago. They killed Syrians the same way. Russian bombs destroy Ukrainian homes the same way.”
Russia’s defence ministry said early on Sunday on Telegram that Ukraine’s forces launched “a targeted missile strike on a boarding school in the city of Sudzha” from the territory of Ukraine.
Russia’s acting governor of the Kursk region, Alexander Khinshtein, also blamed Kyiv forces for the strike and said there was no reliable information yet about the number of potential victims.
A Ukrainian military spokesperson, Oleksiy Dmytrashkivskyi, had earlier said in a video posted on Facebook that nearly 100 people were under rubble at the site, which he said housed mostly elderly and infirm people.
Reuters was not able to verify the claims by either side independently, and the scope of the attack remained unclear.
Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Thousands of civilians, however, have been killed, the vast majority of them Ukrainian.
On October 14th, Ukraine and Russia found themselves at odds once again as a missile strike killed at least four people in a school in Kursk. Both countries have pointed fingers at each other, with Ukraine accusing Russia of orchestrating the attack and Russia denying any involvement.
The missile strike has further heightened tensions between the two neighboring countries, who have been embroiled in a long-standing conflict over territory and political influence. The casualties in the Kursk school tragedy have only added fuel to the fire, with both sides vowing to retaliate and seek justice for the victims.
As the international community watches with growing concern, the blame game between Ukraine and Russia shows no signs of abating. The tragic incident in Kursk serves as a stark reminder of the volatile nature of their relationship and the potential for further violence and bloodshed.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims and we can only hope for a swift resolution to this escalating crisis. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story. #Ukraine #Russia #Kursk #MissileStrike #Conflict #Tensions
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Ukraine, Russia, missile attack, Kursk school, blame game, international news, tragedy, conflict, geopolitical tensions, casualties, breaking news, Eastern Europe
A smartphone displays Google Maps that shows Gulf of Mexico, in Mountain View, California, United States on January 28, 2025.
Tayfun Coskun | Anadolu | Getty Images
Google‘s maps division on Monday reclassified the U.S. as a “sensitive country,” a designation it reserves for states with strict governments and border disputes, CNBC has learned.
The new classification for the U.S. came after President Donald Trump said his administration would make name changes on official maps and federal communications. Those changes include renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” and renaming Mount Denali as Mount McKinley.
Google’s order to stop designating the U.S. as a “non-sensitive” country came on Monday, according to internal correspondence viewed by CNBC. That’s when the company announced it would change the name of the body of water between the Yucatan and Florida peninsulas to the “Gulf of America” in Google Maps after the Trump administration updates its “official government sources.”
The decision to elevate the U.S. to its list of sensitive countries illustrates the challenges that tech companies face as they try to navigate the early days of a second Trump presidency. Since the start of the year, Meta, TikTok, Amazon and others have adjusted their products and policies to reflect Trump’s political views, policies and executive orders.
Trump had a rocky relationship with Silicon Valley throughout his first presidency and didn’t shy away from criticizing the sector throughout his 2024 campaign. More recently, tech executives, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, have pursued closer ties with Trump, with several standing behind the president during his inauguration.
Google’s list of sensitive countries includes China, Russia, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, among others. The label is also used for countries that have “unique geometry or unique labeling,” according to internal correspondence reviewed by CNBC.
The U.S. and Mexico are new additions.
The “sensitive” classification is a technical configuration that signifies some labels within a given country are different from other countries, a company spokesperson told CNBC.
It’s unclear if Google’s reclassification of the U.S. extends beyond its “Geo” division.
In this photo illustration, the Gulf of Mexico is displayed on the Google Maps app on Jan. 28, 2025 in San Anselmo, California.
Some team members within the maps division were ordered to urgently make changes to the location name and recategorize the U.S. from “non-sensitive” to “sensitive,” according to the internal correspondence. The changes were given a rare “P0” order, meaning it had the highest priority level and employees were immediately notified and instructed to drop what they were doing to work on it.
Google’s order states that the Gulf of America title change should be treated similar to the Persian Gulf, which in Arab countries is displayed on Google Maps as the Arabian Gulf.
“We’ve received a few questions about naming within Google Maps,” the company said in an X post. “We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.”
Google added that the name Gulf of Mexico will remain displayed for users in Mexico. Users in other countries will see both names, the company said.
When the Obama administration changed the name of the Alaska mountain from Mount McKinley to Denali in August 2015, Google updated Maps to reflect the name change, a Google spokesperson told CNBC.
Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO
In a surprising move, Google has reclassified the United States as a ‘sensitive country’ alongside China and Russia. This decision comes amidst growing concerns about data privacy and government surveillance in the U.S.
The tech giant’s decision to designate the U.S. as a sensitive country means that Google will now treat user data from the U.S. with the same level of caution as it does with countries known for strict censorship and surveillance practices.
This move raises questions about the state of privacy and freedom of expression in the U.S., as well as the role that tech companies play in upholding these values. It also underscores the global nature of data privacy concerns and the need for consistent policies across borders.
As Google continues to navigate the complex landscape of data privacy and government surveillance, it will be interesting to see how this reclassification impacts its operations and relationships with users in the U.S. and around the world.
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Russia and Ukraine continue to swap daily barrages, with the prospects of ceasefire talks appearing slim.
A nuclear power plant was among targets during a massive Ukrainian drone attack, Russian officials have said.
Moscow said on Wednesday that the country’s energy infrastructure had come under attack by at least 100 drones overnight. Ukraine also reported strikes. The continuing barrages were accompanied by barbs from the two countries’ presidents, suggesting little prospect of peace talks.
The Russian Ministry of Defence said on Telegram that 104 drones were involved in raids across western Russia, many targeting power and oil facilities.
Local officials claimed that air defence systems had destroyed one drone that had attempted to strike the nuclear power plant in the western region of Smolensk.
“According to preliminary information, one of the drones was shot down during an attempt to attack a nuclear power facility,” Governor Vasily Anokhin said on the Telegram messaging app. “There were no casualties or damage.”
The Smolensk Nuclear Power Plant, the largest power generating plant in Russia’s northwest, was working normally on Wednesday morning, RIA state news agency reported, citing the plant’s press service.
Petrochemicals giant Sibur reported a fire at its oil refinery in the Nizhny Novgorod region about 800km (500 miles) from the Ukrainian border.
Russia’s air defences reportedly destroyed drones over nine regions, including 11 over Smolensk, which sits on the border with Belarus. Nearly half were hit over Kursk, where Ukrainian troops have occupied several villages for months following an incursion.
Ukraine and Russia have been swapping drone and missile strikes on an almost daily basis, with energy infrastructure a particular target amid winter.
Warnings that the fighting could spark a nuclear disaster have been sounded since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022. However, most of the concern has focused on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia plant, which sits on the frontlines in the east of the country.
Ukraine’s military said on Wednesday that Russia launched an overnight drone attack of its own, resulting in air alerts in multiple regions.
A port in the Odesa region was reportedly targeted, while debris from a destroyed drone fell near a metro station in the capital, Kyiv, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
Prospects for peace talks
Amid the continuing air attacks, the return of Donald Trump as United States president has revived rhetoric over the possibility of a ceasefire.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that his country could hold peace talks with Ukraine, but ruled out speaking directly with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“If (Zelenskyy) wants to participate in the negotiations, I will allocate people to take part,” Putin said, calling the Ukrainian leader “illegitimate” because his presidential term expired during martial law.
“If there is a desire to negotiate and find a compromise, let anyone lead the negotiations there … Naturally, we will strive for what suits us, what corresponds to our interests,” he added.
Today, Putin once again confirmed that he is afraid of negotiations, afraid of strong leaders, and does everything possible to prolong the war. Every move he makes and all his cynical tricks are aimed at making the war endless.
In 2014, Russia started a hybrid war against…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 28, 2025
Zelenskky responded by saying Putin was frustrating efforts to stop the fighting.
“Today, Putin once again confirmed that he is afraid of negotiations, afraid of strong leaders and does everything possible to prolong the war,” Zelenskyy posted on X.
Kyiv has warned against it being excluded from any peace talks between Russia and the US, accusing Putin of wanting to “manipulate” Trump.
In a recent development in the Russia-Ukraine war, Russia has claimed that one of its nuclear power plants was targeted during a massive drone attack by Ukrainian forces. The attack reportedly took place on Saturday, causing concern about the safety of the plant and potential environmental consequences.
The Russian government has accused Ukraine of using drones to target the plant, which is located in the city of Beloyarsk in the Ural Mountains. The plant is said to have sustained damage, but no radiation leaks have been reported so far.
Ukrainian officials have denied the allegations, stating that they have no intention of targeting nuclear facilities. They have called the accusations “provocative” and “baseless.”
The incident has raised fears about the escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as targeting a nuclear power plant could have catastrophic consequences. Both sides have been urged to exercise restraint and work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy said President Donald Trump’s rhetoric toward Russian President Vladimir Putin about negotiating a deal to end the war or facing more economic pressure is “just and fair.”
“This is exactly what Putin is afraid of. He doesn’t want strong Trump supporting Ukraine because it would be a strong Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said through a translator in an exclusive interview Tuesday on “Hannity.”
Trump threatened Putin in a Truth Social post last week, calling on him to make a deal or face additional tariffs and sanctions.
“Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War! IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. If we don’t make a ‘deal,’ and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries,” Trump wrote.
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the government via a video conference at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 19, 2023.((Photo by ALEXANDER KAZAKOV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images))
Zelenskyy noted that since the 2022 full-scale invasion, Ukraine has taken back 50% of the territory once held by Russian soldiers.
“We would like to achieve a fair end to this war. We are not afraid. Russia is not that strong, but we don’t want to lose more of our lives, men and women,” he told Fox News host Sean Hannity.
United Nations deputy human rights chief Nada Al-Nashif said in early January more than 12,300 civilians, including over 650 children, have been killed in Ukraine since the onset of the war.
A dog walks past a destroyed tank, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, in the village of Kolychivka, outside Chernihiv, Ukraine, April 5, 2022.(REUTERS/Marko Djurica)
Zelenskyy added that Putin doesn’t want to bring an end to the war, and Ukraine will not recognize the occupation of its lands.
He called for more international pressure on Putin, specifically from China, so an agreement can be made, as well as “broader guarantees of security.”
“I believe that guarantees from Europe alone will never be enough,” said Zelenskyy. “The Europeans understand that without guarantees of security from the United States, from President Trump, it will not be enough. Putin is not afraid of Europe. Unfortunately, that is so.”
U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy walk next to Saint Michael’s cathedral, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine February 20, 2023. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich(REUTERS/Gleb Garanich )
The Ukrainian president explained that prior to Russia’s invasion, he personally asked former President Joe Biden and his team to take preventative action, like putting sanctions on Russia, as its troops and tanks amassed on Ukraine’s borders.
Zelenskyy also asked for weapons, but he says he was told they would only be provided “if” Russia invaded.
A child stands near luggage as a parent disembarks with other bags, as some women and children, some of the thousands who fled Ukraine after Russia invaded, arrive from Poland, at Kyiv’s railway station on May 12, 2022. (Photo by SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images)
“Parallel with that, I was asking the European Union countries, and they could not do it without [the] approval of the United States. So they always look at the leader, the United States, as the leader. So, during the big invasion, Ukrainians were left on their own, and we were fighting on our own,” he said.
“If President Trump has the will to force Putin to come to peace, he can do it,” Zelenskyy continued, arguing he hopes there’s more to a potential agreement than just a piece of paper. “We want him to be on the side of justice, on the side of Ukraine.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly praised former US President Donald Trump for his “just and fair” rhetoric toward Russia during his time in office.
In a recent interview, Zelenskyy commended Trump for taking a strong stance against Russian aggression and standing up for Ukraine’s sovereignty. He also expressed gratitude for the military aid and support that the US provided to Ukraine during Trump’s administration.
Zelenskyy’s comments come as tensions between Ukraine and Russia continue to escalate, with ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea in 2014. The Ukrainian president’s words serve as a reminder of the importance of international support in standing up to Russian aggression.
While Zelenskyy’s praise for Trump may come as a surprise to some, it highlights the complexities of international relations and the need for strong leadership in the face of adversity. As Zelenskyy continues to navigate the challenges posed by Russia, his words serve as a reminder of the impact that US foreign policy can have on global affairs.
Trump describes Ukraine war as ‘bullets whacking and hitting men’
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The Russian president said Ukraine will have to find a legal way to hold the peace talks as Kyiv has not held any elections since Russia started the war on its smaller neighbour.
In response, Mr Zelensky said the Russian leader’s statements showed he was afraid of talks and sought to keep the conflict going indefinitely.
On the war front, more than a hundred drones targeted Russian oil facilities, including a nuclear power plant, in a major Ukrainian attack this morning, Russian officials said. The Russian defence ministry said that 104 drones were involved in raids across western Russia, 11 of which were destroyed over the Smolensk region.
This comes as North Korea is set to send more than 100 artillery systems to be used against Ukraine’s forces in the war, officials in Kyiv said.
A close ally of Russia, North Korea is about to double the number of artillery systems it has deployed to Russia’s Kursk region, said Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief.
Zelensky asks Trump to be on Ukraine’s side and reject Putin
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has urged US president Donald Trump to be on Ukraine’s side as the US attempts to broker a peace deal.
“We want him (Trump) to be on the side of justice, on the side of Ukraine,” Mr Zelensky said in the interview aired last night. “Putin is not afraid of Europe,” he said.
Mr Zelensky added Ukraine cannot recognise Russia’s occupation, but it preferred a diplomatic resolution.
The White House had no immediate comment.
Mr Trump has expressed willingness to speak to Mr Putin about ending the war, a contrast with the administration of Democratic former president Joe Biden, who shunned the Russian leader.
Arpan Rai29 January 2025 07:38
Russia shuts output at petrochemical plant after drone attack
Russian petrochemicals giant Sibur said it has temporarily suspended production today at its plant in the Nizhny Novgorod region due to a Ukrainian drone attack.
The company said debris had fallen onto the plant and caused a fire but there were no casualties. Emergency services were working at the site, it said.
Arpan Rai29 January 2025 06:54
Australian soldier Oscar Jenkins is alive, foreign minister says
Oscar Jenkins, an Australian soldier who was previously feared dead in Russia, is alive and in Russian custody, Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong has announced.
Mr Jenkins, 32, signed up to fight for Ukraine against Russian forces before he was taken captive. A video showed him with hands bound and being struck by a Russian interrogator earlier this month, sparking fears for his life.
“The Australian government has received confirmation from Russia that Oscar Jenkins is alive and in custody,” Ms Wong said today.
Australia still holds “serious concerns for Mr Jenkins as a prisoner of war,” she said. “We have made clear to Russia in Canberra and in Moscow that Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of war and Russia is obligated to treat him in accordance with international humanitarian law, including humane treatment,” the minister said.
A foreign soldier who trained him said earlier this month that he believed Mr Jenkins had been executed in captivity to make an example of him, according to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald on 14 January.
Arpan Rai29 January 2025 06:21
Where Russian forces are making gains in eastern Ukraine: Mapped
Arpan Rai29 January 2025 06:20
More than 100 Ukrainian drones hit Russian power, oil facilities
More than a hundred drones hit Russian oil facilities, including a nuclear power plant, in a major Ukrainian attack this morning, Russian officials said.
The Russian defence ministry said that 104 drones were involved in raids across western Russia, 11 of which were destroyed over the Smolensk region.
The Smolensk nuclear power plant, the largest power generating plant in Russia’s northwest, was working normally, RIA state news agency reported, citing the plant’s press service.
Air defence systems destroyed a drone attempting to strike a nuclear power facility in the western region of Smolensk bordering Belarus, governor Vasily Anokhin said on the Telegram app.
In total, Russian air defences destroyed drones over nine regions, nearly half of them over Kursk where Russian forces are fighting to drive out Ukrainian troops that have occupied several villages.
Arpan Rai29 January 2025 06:04
North Korea troops partially withdraw from front in Russia’s Kursk
Arpan Rai29 January 2025 05:40
Drone debris falls near metro station in Kyiv, mayor says
Debris from a destroyed Russian drone fell near a metro station in the Darnytskyi district of Kyiv this morning, said mayor Vitali Klitschko.
“All emergency services heading to the site,” Mr Klitschko said on his Telegram channel. Kyiv was under an air raid alert for about half an hour starting at 3.55am GMT, according to data from Ukraine’s air force.
Arpan Rai29 January 2025 05:30
Why Ukraine-Russia peace talks are not as simple as Trump makes out
Tom Watling29 January 2025 05:00
North Korea sends cannons and artillery – designed to attack Seoul – to Ukraine war
North Korea is set to send more than 100 artillery systems to be used against Ukraine’s forces in the war, officials in Kyiv said.
A close ally of Russia, North Korea is about to double the number of artillery systems it has deployed to Russia’s Kursk region, said Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief.
North Korea has already given at least 120 North Korean-made M1989 Koksans, as well as another 120 of its M1991 multiple-launch rocket systems, the Ukrainian military intelligence official said.
Pyongyang was preparing to send another tranche of at least the same amount, Lt Gen Budanov said, adding that open source analysts have spotted some already on their way to the war.
The 170mm M1989 Koksan howitzers were manufactured by North Korea to attack the South Korean capital in the event of a war. It is among the longest-range artillery systems in the world.
Arpan Rai29 January 2025 04:39
The extremes North Korean soldiers will go to avoid capture in Ukraine
Tom Watling29 January 2025 04:00
In the latest development of the Russia Ukraine war, Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected calls for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, labeling him as ‘illegitimate’. This comes as tensions continue to escalate between the two countries, with Russia’s recent deployment of North Korean cannons adding to the already volatile situation.
The decision to refuse talks with Zelensky is a clear signal of Putin’s hardline stance towards Ukraine, as he continues to push for his own agenda in the region. The deployment of North Korean cannons further complicates the situation, raising concerns about the potential for increased violence and instability in the region.
The international community has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation in Ukraine, with calls for dialogue and de-escalation growing louder. However, Putin’s rejection of talks with Zelensky and the deployment of North Korean cannons indicate that a peaceful resolution to the conflict may be further out of reach.
As the situation continues to unfold, the world watches anxiously, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the Russia Ukraine war. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
