Russian crews were responding to an air force attack in the Ryazan region southeast of Moscow on Thursday night. Social media channels posted videos of what appeared to be very large flames in the city and said a major oil refinery and power plant had been hit by Ukrainian drones. Ryazan Governor Pavel Markov said that air defense units destroyed the drone. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defenses had thwarted Ukrainian drone strikes at four locations around the Russian capital, and more drones were heading toward the capital.
Donald Trump told the Davos World Economic Forum meeting that he hopes to meet Vladimir Putin soon and “stop this stupid war.” Trump, who threatened to impose punitive measures on Russia if a deal is not reached, said: . It’s in terms of millions of lives being wasted…it’s a genocide. And we really have to stop that war. ”
Heather Stewart writes in an online address to Davos that the US president accused Opec’s global oil producers of prolonging the war in Ukraine by not lowering prices. It will end immediately.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was nothing particularly new in Trump’s threats about ending the war, but Moscow was following “all the nuances” of the rhetoric and said it was against dialogue. It remained open. Peskov said Trump often applied sanctions against Russia during his first term as president.
Trump’s comments have been welcomed by Ukraine. “We really welcome such a strong message from President Trump and believe that he will be the winner.” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sibikha said:
Russia rejected the idea that NATO countries would send peacekeepers to Ukraine if a ceasefire occurs. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said it could lead to an “uncontrollable escalation.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that at least 200,000 European peacekeepers would be needed to prevent a new Russian attack after the ceasefire deal.
Ukraine has announced the evacuation of children from several towns in the northeastern Kharkiv region threatened by Russian forces. Oleg Synegubov, governor of the Kharkiv region, said: “267 children and their families should be evacuated from 16 settlements to safe places.” Sinegubov said the affected towns and villages were near Kupiansk, where Russia had been trying for months to capture the town, where fighting has been raging on the outskirts. “This decision was taken due to the intensification of hostile shelling. We urge families with minors to save their lives and leave the dangerous area,” Sinegubov said.
Ukraine is in the final stages of drafting recruitment reforms to attract children aged 18 to 25 who are currently exempt from mobilization, a recently appointed battlefield commander to the presidential office said. Col. Pablo Parisa said the current drafting system inherited from the Soviet era is hindering progress. Ukraine has already passed a mobilization law that lowers the age of conscription from 27 to 25, but this measure does not have the necessary impact to replenish its ranks or replace battlefield losses in the war with Russia. Not given.
One initiative is what Parisa described as an “honest contract” that includes financial incentives, clear guarantees on training, and measures to ensure dialogue between soldiers and commanders. The plan also covers the right to postponement or discharged Ukrainians after the mobilization law is passed. “Right now, my view is that we need to start an open dialogue with society,” Parisa said. “Because the defense of the state is not only the responsibility of the military. It is the duty of all Ukrainian citizens and their duty.”
