Monday, January 13
Russia’s war against Ukraine
Firefighters walk around the site of a Russian missile strike in a residential area outside of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast on Jan. 11, 2025. (Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Switzerland ready to host Trump-Putin meeting. Switzerland has expressed its readiness to host a high-level meeting between U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Nicolas Bideau, head of communications at the Swiss Foreign Ministry, told Swiss newspaper Le Temps.
Trump, Putin call expected in near future, incoming national security adviser says. “I do expect a call, at least in the coming days and weeks, so that would be a step, and we’ll take it from there,” incoming U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said on Jan. 12 regarding upcoming talks between Trump and Putin.
Serbian president offers to host Trump-Putin meeting in Belgrade. “There is no country that can compare to Serbia in terms of the level of support for President Trump. … And on the other hand, it is a country where President Putin is still very, very popular.”
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Ukraine ready to return North Korean POWs to Kim Jong Un or find ‘other ways,’ Zelensky says. “Ukraine is ready to hand over his people to Kim Jong Un if he can organize their exchange for our soldiers who are held captive in Russia. For those North Korean soldiers who do not want to return, there may be some other ways.”
‘Ukrainians can help Americans protect lives’ — Zelensky says Kyiv ready to send firefighters to California. “The situation there is extremely challenging, and Ukrainians can help Americans protect lives. This matter is being worked out… We already have 150 firefighters prepared.”
German Defense Minister denies Scholz blocked proposal for $3 billion arms package for Ukraine, says decision awaits. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius denied media reports that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz blocked a proposal for an additional military aid package for Ukraine worth 3 billion euros ($3.09 billion), adding that a decision on the funding awaits.
Human cost of war
Russia launches double airstrike on nursing home in Kursk Oblast, military claims. According to the military, around 2,000 people remain in areas under Ukrainian control. Over 70 people are currently staying in the nursing home that came under attack.
Russian drone strikes on Sumy Oblast spark fire at children’s wellness center, 2 injured in attack on bus. Russian drones struck civilian infrastructure in Sumy Oblast on Jan. 12, leading to multiple casualties.
Read our exclusives
**Ukraine war latest: ‘Irrefutable evidence of North Korea’s involvement’ — Ukraine says it captured 2 North Korean POWs in Kursk Oblast
**Ukrainian troops captured two North Korean soldiers as prisoners of war (POWs) in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Jan. 11.
Photo: President Volodymyr Zelensky/Telegram
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The Week Ahead: Key Developments Impacting Global Politics & Markets
This article is an on-site version of KI Insights’ The Week Ahead newsletter covering events from Jan. 13 to Jan. 20. Sign up to start your week with an agenda of Ukraine-related events, delivered directly to your inbox every Sunday.
Photo: Kyiv Independent
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International response
Far-right Slovak delegation flies to Moscow for talks on Russian gas supplies. Andrej Danko, co-leader of the delegation, claimed that Warsaw refused to allow their flight to enter Polish airspace and the plane had to be rerouted via Czechia and Germany.
Fico refused Kyiv’s offers to help with gas supplies, Zelensky says. “We offered our assistance to the people of Slovakia during their adaptation to the absence of Russian gas transit, but Fico arrogantly refused,” Zelensky said on Jan. 12.
Sweden to increase military presence in Baltic Sea following suspected cable sabotage. Sweden will increase its military presence in the Baltic Sea through the deployment of three warships and a radar reconnaissance aircraft in response to the suspected sabotage of several underwater cables, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Jan. 12.
Russian-friendly incumbent Zoran Milanovic re-elected president of Croatia. Milanovic’s re-election to the largely symbolic position serves as a setback for Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic’s government, whose government was recently embroiled in a corruption scandal implicating a former health minister.
New Kursk offensive and French-trained brigade scandal | Ukraine This Week
In other news
Over 130 people, including 12 children, evacuated from Donetsk Oblast on Jan 11. According to Filashkin, Russian troops shelled the settlements of Donetsk Oblast 20 times over the past day, killing one person in the village of Hryshyne, not far from Pokrovsk.
Military: Russian troops dress as civilians in Toretsk, Donetsk Oblast. Aerial reconnaissance footage posted by the brigade on Facebook shows a couple of alleged Russian soldiers dressed in civilian clothes. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the images.
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