S&P cuts Russia's foreign currency rating to 'selective default.'

6:22 PM

Next Ramstein summit to be held on Feb. 12 under UK chairmanship instead of US, media reports.

Following Donald Trump's administration's takeover of the White House, the future format of Ramstein's meetings remained uncertain.

5:05 PM

Ukraine extends martial law until May 9.

The extension of general mobilization and martial law until May 9 coincides with the celebration of Victory Day in Russia.

4:16 PM

Russian intelligence behind deadly Rivne draft office bombing, Ukraine's SBU claims.

The revelation follows a series of attacks on military enlistment officers, including explosions at draft offices.

3:58 PM

Ukraine brings back 150 POWs from Russian captivity in prisoner swap.

The released captives included members of the Navy, the Air Force, the Airborne Troops, the National Guard, the State Border Guard, the Territorial Defense Forces, and a police officer, according to the president.

3:22 PM

US 'not going to eliminate foreign aid,' Rubio says amid USAID shutdown push.

"I continue to support foreign aid. But foreign aid is not charity. It exists for the purpose of advancing the national interest of the United States," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

3:21 PM

Trump's team split over how to end war in Ukraine, NBC reports.

The U.S. has significant leverage over Russia in economic, military, and diplomatic terms, but questions remain over Trump's willingness to use it.

3:10 PM

Ukraine offering gas storage facilities for US LNG to boost Europe's energy security.

"The presence of big business from our closest allies, particularly the United States, in this area is an important element of security and economic stability guarantees," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.

2:52 PM

Kellogg to discuss Trump's Ukraine strategy at Munich Security Conference.

"I look forward to speaking about (Trump's) goal to end the bloody and costly war in Ukraine," Keith Kellogg said on X.

2:07 PM

Explosion reported near Khmelnytskyi Oblast draft office — 1 killed, 4 injured.

An explosion near a military enlistment office in Kamianets-Podilskyi in Khmelnytskyi Oblast on Feb. 5 left at least one person dead and four injured, Suspilne reported, citing a police spokesperson.

1:38 PM

UK pledges $69 million to boost Ukraine's resilience, grain deliveries to Syria.

"This funding for social, humanitarian, and energy programs will strengthen our resilience. And this assistance is very timely right now," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.

1:22 PM

Russia ready to negotiate despite Zelensky's 'legitimacy problems,' Kremlin spox claims.

"Mr. Zelensky has big problems de jure in terms of his legitimacy, but even so, the Russian side remains open to negotiations," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed.

12:58 PM

UK doesn't see Russia being 'serious about negotiations' with Ukraine.

"We do not see (that) Russia is serious about negotiations and serious about peace," U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said alongside his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha.

12:30 PM

Azerbaijani airliner that crashed in December struck by Russian Pantsir missile, source tells Reuters.

The Azerbaijani airliner that crashed in Kazakhstan in December after diverting from the Russian airspace was struck by a Russian Pantsir air defense missile, an undisclosed Azerbaijani source told Reuters in comments published on Feb. 4.

12:16 PM

38 countries announce 'major progress' on tribunal for Russian leadership.

The tribunal, set to operate within the Council of Europe, will focus on Russia's political and military leaders, including President Vladimir Putin.

12:11 PM

Ukraine strikes Russian oil facility, Buk air defense system overnight, military claims.

An attack carried out by the SBU and the Defense Forces set fire to the Albashneft oil depot in Novominskaya in southwestern Russia, according to the General Staff.

11:35 AM

US provides 30% of Ukraine's weapons, domestic production covers 40%, Zelensky says.

"This does not bring tranquility but rather a moral belief that we will not be left empty-handed, of course, without the support of the United States," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

11:20 AM

Book reviews

‘Donbas is fiction’ — Kateryna Zarembo’s book dismantles Russian myths about Ukraine’s east

11:03 AM

US leading 'very constructive talks on Ukraine,' Trump says.

"But we are having very good talks, very constructive talks on Ukraine. And we are talking to the Russians. We're talking to the Ukrainian leadership," Donald Trump said during a press conference in Washington with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

10:52 AM

Ukraine should receive nuclear weapons if NATO entry is delayed, Zelensky says.

President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that Ukraine's NATO accession could be delayed "for years or decades," raising the question of how the country would defend itself.

9:44 AM

8 killed, 70 injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over past day.

Russia launched two ballistic missiles, as well as 104 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy drones, against Ukraine overnight, the Air Force reported.

9:31 AM

UK Foreign Secretary Lammy arrives in Kyiv.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrived in Kyiv on Feb. 5 to discuss Ukrainian-British cooperation and Ukraine's security, said Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's ambassador to the U.K.

9:16 AM

US aid freeze halts support for prosecuting Russian war crimes, Ukraine's energy sector, lawmaker says.

The cuts include suspending U.S. assistance in war crimes investigations and halting support for international experts assisting in the process, Democratic Congressman Eugene Vindman said.

9:22 PM  (Updated:  February 5, 2025 9:00 am)

Trump & Ukraine

Trump wants Ukraine’s ‘rare earths’ — What critical materials does it actually have?

8:50 AM

Ukraine's drone strike reportedly sets fire to Russian oil depot in Krasnodar Krai.

The fire at the Albashneft oil depot was extinguished at 8:11 am Moscow time, the independent Telegram channel Astra reported, publishing a video of what appears to be a burning oil tank.

8:16 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 844,070 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,140 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.