Russian deputy ambassador to the UN: Russia retains right to use nuclear weapons if “provoked” by NATO.

11:04 AM

Trump pauses US foreign development aid for 90 days, orders review.

In the executive order, Donald Trump wrote that "the United States foreign aid industry and bureaucracy are not aligned with American interests and in many cases antithetical to American values," without mentioning specific examples.

10:30 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine injure 15 over past day.

Russian attacks against Ukraine injured at least 15 civilians over the past day, regional authorities reported on Jan. 21.

9:52 AM

Ukrainian drones reportedly attack Russian aviation plant in Smolensk.

A Ukrainian drone attack targeted the Smolensk Aviation Plant in western Russia overnight on Jan. 21, starting a fire at the facility, the independent news channel Astra reported.

9:24 AM

US Senate confirms Marco Rubio as new secretary of state.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Marco Rubio as the next secretary of state by a rare bipartisan consensus on Jan. 20.

8:52 AM

Putin is 'destroying Russia by not making a deal' to end war, Trump says.

"He should make a deal. I think he's destroying Russia by not making a deal," U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters following his inauguration, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.

8:20 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 822,030 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,600 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

8:04 AM

German FM urges Scholz to act and support aid to Ukraine amid election campaign.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has urged Chancellor Olaf Scholz to avoid politicizing aid to Ukraine during Germany's election campaign, n-tv reported on Jan. 20.

5:48 AM

Erdogan intends to discuss ending Russia’s war in Ukraine with Trump.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that there was an urgent need for a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine, at a press conference on Jan. 20.

1:50 AM

Macron warns of prolonged Ukraine war, urges stronger European defense strategy.

"It is essential to provide Ukraine with the means to endure and to negotiate from a position of strength in the future," French President Emmanuel Macron said on Jan. 20.

11:39 PM

EU plans to eliminate Russian fossil fuels, aims to end gas imports.

Gas deliveries from Russia to Europe persist despite the EU's efforts, and Brussels is determined to halt this, Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, the EU’s spokesperson for energy and housing, said on Jan. 20.

10:23 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Ammunition used by Russians halved following Ukrainian strikes, Syrskyi says

9:57 PM

China’s support for Russia falls short in replacing Western materials, media reports.

China has emerged as Russia's largest supplier of goods, but Chinese imports have failed to fully replace Western equipment and raw materials lost due to sanctions, The Moscow Times reported on Jan. 20, citing data from the Gaidar Institute.

9:25 PM

Arms procurement head should keep post, supervisory board says.

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov planned to merge the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) and the State Logistics Operator (DOT) into one agency but changed his mind after a NATO statement said that the two agencies should be kept separate and two separate supervisory boards should be established.

8:03 PM

'False story' — Denmark denies Russian claims of F-16 instructor killed in Kryvyi Rih strike.

"This is a false story being spread by the Russian media — probably with the aim of discrediting Denmark," Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said.

7:12 PM

Cybersecurity

Massive Russian hack on government database shows cracks in Ukraine's digitalization drive

7:02 PM

Trump sworn in as 47th US president, says he's taking back Panama Canal; doesn't mention Ukraine.

"Golden age of America begins right now," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

6:53 PM

Lithuania sends drones, thermal imagers, loaders in new Ukraine aid package, Defense Ministry says.

"Keeping Ukraine safe means taking care of our security. We have as much time as Ukraine has," Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene said.

5:00 PM

Glide Bomb

Russia's primitive glide bombs are still outmatching Ukraine's air defenses, killing more civilians

4:50 PM

Putin congratulates Trump amid inauguration, signals readiness for talks.

This comes as reported peace proposals, including freezing the front lines, have been publicly rejected by Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously stated that his country would begin peace negotiations if Kyiv agreed to withdraw from the four Ukrainian regions Moscow partly controls.

4:11 PM

Commander of scandal-hit Ukrainian brigade detained, accused of failing to report desertions.

The State Bureau of Investigation launched an investigation into the 155th "Anne of Kyiv" Brigade on Jan. 3.

3:50 PM

Opinion

Trump sees peace in Ukraine as a deal but refuses to play his winning hand

3:42 PM

China imports record amount of Russian crude oil in 2024, Reuters reports.

In 2024, 108.5 million metric tons were imported from Russia, including through pipelines and sea deliveries.

2:18 PM

'I didn't know who I'd be fighting' — North Korean soldier captured by Ukraine speaks in new footage.

The POW said he arrived in Russia on a cargo ferry with over 100 other North Korean soldiers.

1:13 PM

Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 2, injure 5 over past day.

Russian forces launched 141 drones at Ukraine overnight from the Russian cities of Bryansk, Kursk, Orel, Millerovo, and Primosk-Akhtarsk, according to Ukraine's Air Force.

12:50 PM

Russia launched nearly 550 drones, 60 missiles, over 660 aerial bombs against Ukraine in a week, Zelensky says.

"More Patriot (air defenses) for Ukraine means more protection of life," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.