The Kyiv Independent’s contributor Ignatius Ivlev-Yorke spent a day with a mobile team from the State Emergency Service in Nikopol in the south of Ukraine as they responded to relentless drone, artillery, and mortar strikes from Russian forces just across the Dnipro River. Nikopol is located across from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the city of Enerhodar.
Peter Szijjarto's announcement came after Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) allegedly dismantled a Hungarian military intelligence network operating in Zakarpattia Oblast.
Moscow and Washington discuss the potential resumption of Russian gas supplies to Europe, among other issues related to the peaceful settlement of Russia's war in Ukraine, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed to the Russian state-run Interfax news agency.
"This is a historic decision, as weapons for Ukraine will be purchased at the expense of the proceeds from frozen Russian assets through the European Peace Fund," Denys Shmyhal said.
Kurt Volker said that now "there is more alignment" between Ukraine and the U.S. under the Trump Administration than at the beginning of 2025.
The approval marks a key step in international efforts to hold Moscow accountable for what is considered the gravest violation of international law committed against Ukraine.
Although Moscow declared on April 28 that it would halt all military actions from May 8 to midnight on May 11 to mark Victory Day, strikes on civilian areas have continued.
Under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's rule, millions of Ukrainians died during the Holodomor, a man-made famine in 1932–1933. The dictator also oversaw mass deportations, purges of Ukrainian intellectuals and leaders, and the suppression of the Ukrainian language and culture.
According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), this marks the first time Ukrainian authorities have exposed a Hungarian military intelligence network conducting activities harmful to Ukraine.
Delegations from 35 countries and the Council of Europe gathered in Lviv as EU officials prepare to approve both new defense aid and steps toward establishing a tribunal for Russian leadership.
The ruling marks a significant victory for RFE/RL amid growing concerns about U.S. funding cuts to independent media countering Russian disinformation.
Blinken to visit Kyiv, Berlin on Jan. 18-20
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Kyiv and Berlin on Jan. 18-20.
Blinken will first visit Kyiv, where he will meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Jan. 19, to reaffirm the United States' support for Ukraine as Russia is threatening to further invade it.
According to the U.S. State Department, Blinken will also meet employees and families of the U.S. embassy in Kyiv to discuss "potential contingencies, should Russia choose to escalate further."
Blinken will then travel to Germany to meet with Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. The two will discuss efforts to halt Russian aggression -- specifically, the willingness of European allies to impose severe sanctions should Russia escalate the situation. Baerbock visited Kyiv on Jan. 17, and Moscow on Jan. 18.
"The secretary’s travel and consultations are part of the diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the tension caused by Russia’s military buildup and continued aggression against Ukraine," said Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department.
Russia continues to carry out regular military drills and maneuvers as tensions run high in the region, with over 100,000 Russian troops concentrated close to Ukraine’s border.
The massive buildup, accompanied by the Kremlin’s warlike rhetoric and aggressive demands towards NATO and the U.S. triggered serious concerns and fears of a large-scale military action against Ukraine.
As tensions rise, several high-ranking diplomats from the U.S., Canada, and Germany have visited Kyiv on Jan. 17.
Yet, the West has failed to present a unified stance, as allies struggle to agree on which economic sanctions should be implemented and what aid should be provided to Ukraine.
Germany has stood by its decision to not allow military assistance. Meanwhile, U.K. Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace announced that his country will provide Ukraine with anti-tank weapons to boost Kyiv's security amid escalating threats.
High-level negotiations between Russia and the West, held between Jan. 10-12, failed to yield results. Blinken expressed concerns over whether Russia truly intends to reach a diplomatic solution or whether it is attempting to create a situation where Russia can "justify" its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
On Jan. 18, the Defense Ministry of Belarus announced that Russia deployed military divisions to Belarus, allegedly as a part of joint training exercises.
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