War in Europe

Ukraine, Lavrov: 'Western plan is absurd'. Kiev-Moscow agreement on prisoner exchange

The Russian foreign minister attacks the West: 'Pathetic diplomacy'. Meanwhile, the US resumes military dialogue with Moscow

5 February 2026

Il ministro degli Esteri russo Sergei Lavrov partecipa a una riunione presso la sede del ministero a Mosca, Russia, il 2 febbraio 2026. Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via REUTERS

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in an interview with the Russian news agency RT, returned to attacking Europe and the United States, calling the Western plan to respond to possible violations of agreements on peace in Ukraine "absurd". "Over the past year, the West - especially Europe - has kept repeating one thing: we need reliable security guarantees - an immediate ceasefire and security guarantees. We asked them: if the underlying problems are not solved, wouldn't these guarantees simply mean that any ceasefire would be used to send more weapons to Ukraine? They did not grasp this logic, they did not react at all,' Lavrov explained, adding that Russia demands a 'neutral and benevolent Ukraine'.

Lavrov: 'Europe obstructs Russia-US negotiations'

European diplomatic efforts continue to fail to satisfy Moscow. Lavrov, commenting on French President Macron's statements on a possible resumption of dialogue with the Kremlin, called European diplomatic efforts "pathetic". "If you want to talk, and talk seriously about something, then call. Putin always answers the phone. He listens to all proposals," he said.

Lavrov also said that Europe is now trying to hinder and prevent the negotiations started between Russia and the US on Ukraine. "All they are doing now is impeding and obstructing the negotiations started between us and the Americans, and now the Ukrainian representatives are also joining them," he said.

The Abu Dhabi Summit

Negotiations between the Ukrainian, Russian and US delegations in Abu Dhabi "have not been easy", Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, adding that Kiev would like to see faster steps towards ending the Russian invasion. "It is certainly not easy, but Ukraine has been and will remain as constructive as possible," Zelensky told a press conference in Kiev together with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, adding, "We want faster results."

White House envoy Steve Witkoff also commented on the two-day talks, saying that the delegations "had extensive discussions on outstanding issues, including ways to implement a ceasefire and to monitor the cessation of military activities". During the summit it was reportedly agreed 'to continue trilateral talks in the coming weeks'.

Upcoming talks in the United States

According to Ukrainian President Zelensky, the next negotiation meetings may take place in America. "Today I received a report from our negotiating team after two days of meetings and talks in the United Arab Emirates, with the American side and the Russian side. What can already be said is that further meetings are planned in the near future, probably in the United States," Zelensky said in his evening speech.

U.S.-Russia Military Dialogue Resumes

On the sidelines of the US-Ukraine-Russia trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, a meeting between senior Russian and American military officials led to an understanding to re-establish a high-level military dialogue between Moscow and Washington. According to the US European Command, the agreement was reached between General Alexus Grynkewich, commander of the US European Command - and Nato's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe - and senior Russian and Ukrainian military officials. The channel 'will provide constant military contact as the parties continue to work towards a lasting peace', the statement read. High-level military communications had been suspended in 2021, shortly before Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russian Oreshnik Missile Base Struck

The Ukrainian Army General Staff confirmed today that in January it had launched a series of attacks against the Kapustin Yar test site on Russian territory, from which Oreshnik missiles are fired into Ukraine.

"In January 2026, the Defence Forces of Ukraine carried out a series of successful attacks on a complex of hangar-type buildings, where the pre-launch preparation of medium-range intercontinental ballistic missiles takes place, at the Kapustin Yar test site in the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation," reads the report released by the Ukrainian General Staff.

In addition, the governor of the Russian region of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, reported the death of a civilian following a Ukrainian drone attack last night. "Late last night, a drone attacked a moving vehicle in the village of Ilek-Penkovka and a man died on the spot from his injuries," the governor said on his Telegram channel.

Ucraina, Usa: con missile Oreshnik escalation pericolosa e inspiegabile

Witkoff: Kiev-Moscow OK on prisoner exchange

On the diplomatic front, US envoy Steve Witkoff announced that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to a new prisoner exchange, the first in five months, during trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi that he described as "productive".

"Today, delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Russia agreed to exchange 314 prisoners - the first such exchange in five months," Witkoff announced on his X account.

Ucraina, attacchi russi su Kiev e Kharkiv: almeno un morto e venti feriti

"This result was achieved through thorough and productive peace negotiations. Although there is still a lot of work to be done, progress like this shows that continued diplomatic efforts produce concrete results and contribute to the efforts to end the war in Ukraine, he assured

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