Saturday, February 8
Russia’s war against Ukraine
A man prepares to board up windows of a residential building damaged by shelling in Kostyantynivka, Donetsk Oblast, on Feb. 7, 2025. (Roman Pilipey / AFP via Getty Images)
‘Let’s do a deal’ — Zelensky tells Reuters he’s open to Trump’s mineral partnership. President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed in an interview with Reuters on Feb. 7 that Ukraine was not offering to “give away” its resources but seeking a mutually beneficial partnership.
Zelensky, Trump may meet in Washington next week. “I will probably be meeting with President (Volodymyr) Zelensky next week, and I will probably be talking to President (Vladimir) Putin. I’d like to see the war end,” U.S. President Donald Trump said.
37 Ukrainian MPs visit US to strengthen bilateral relations. “Ukraine is facing a critical task — to restart our relations with our strategic partner, the United States. And we are doing this systematically at all levels, including restoring relations with the U.S. Congress,” Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said.
Ukraine to host Trump’s envoy Kellogg in February, top official says. Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak said that Kyiv wants Washington to be fully informed about Ukraine’s mobilization efforts and the supply of weapons and equipment.
North Korean soldiers ‘brought in again’ to fight in Kursk Oblast. “A significant number of occupiers have been eliminated, we are re talking hundreds of Russian and North Korean servicemen,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Ukraine expecting important decisions at Ramstein meeting. Ukraine is actively preparing and expects important decisions to be made at the upcoming Ramstein meeting, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said during a press conference on Feb. 7.
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Trump’s ICC sanctions won’t hinder Russian war crimes investigation, Kyiv says. “I think that the U.S. decisions are not related to the Ukrainian context, and we hope that they will not affect the court’s ability to achieve justice and justice for the victims of Russian aggression,” said Heorhii Tykhyi, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson.
Kyiv denies reports of alleged failed Russian Oreshnik missile launch at Ukraine. Ukraine’s Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security on Feb. 7 refuted media reports of Russia’s alleged failed launch of its new intermediate-range ballistic missile, the Oreshnik, at Ukraine.
Bucha massacre suspect becomes top official in Russian region. As a platoon commander at the 76th Airborne Assault Division, Mussagaleyev allegedly participated in Russia’s brutal occupation of Bucha, a suburb of Kyiv, in February and March 2022, according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Hundreds of civilians were massacred by Russian troops in Bucha at the time.
2 Ukrainian military officers appointed as deputy defense ministers. “These decisions are part of a comprehensive approach to strengthening our Armed Forces, modernizing management, and advancing military technology,” Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.
Russia designates Register of Damage against Ukraine as undesirable organization. Russia’s Justice Ministry declared the Register of Damage Caused by Russian Aggression against Ukraine an “undesirable organization” on Feb. 7.
Russia to expand seizure of foreign assets, Reuters reports. A draft law approved this week by the Russian government’s legislative commission lays out the procedure for seizing foreign property in retaliation for freezing Russian assets abroad.
Read our exclusives
Ukraine war latest: North Korean soldiers ‘brought in again’ to fight in Kursk Oblast, Zelensky says
“A significant number of occupiers have been eliminated, we are talking hundreds of Russian and North Korean servicemen,” the president said.
Photo: Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images
A night with Ukraine’s Vampire drone team near Kurakhove
International response
US sanctions strain Russia’s oil exports as shipping costs surge, Bloomberg reports. The number of sanctioned vessels has now reached 265, with U.S. blacklisting proving to be the most disruptive. Of the 435 ships that transported Russian crude in 2024, 112—or 26%—are now under Washington’s sanctions.
Trump ready to step up Russia sanctions to end war in Ukraine, special envoy says. Current U.S. sanctions on Russia, particularly those targeting its energy sector, amount to a “3 on a 10-point scale” regarding economic pressure, Keith Kellogg, special envoy for Ukraine and Russia said.
Czechia extends protection for Ukrainians, tightens rules for Russian applicants. Under the new provisions, temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees, set to expire in March, will be extended for another year in line with an EU-wide decision.
In other news
Ukraine secures preliminary deals to replace USAID funding for critical projects, official says. Urgent funding has already been identified for recovery efforts, energy resilience, and cyber defense projects, Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Olha Stefanishyna said.
Putin acknowledges inflation as key challenge for Russia. Speaking at a televised meeting with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Feb. 7, Putin noted that consumer prices in Russia rose by 9.5% in 2024 and have climbed further to 9.9% year-on-year this month.
Police investigate death of 32-year-old man at military enlistment office. The incident follows reports on the deaths of conscripts allegedly caused by beatings at military enlistment offices.
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