L to R: Ukraine, Russia, and US delegations at talks to end Moscow’s invasion, Abu Dhabi, February 4, 2026

EA-War and Politics 24: Is Clock Ticking on Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine?

Saturday’s Coverage: Sweden Jams Russian Drone Near French Aircraft Carrier

UPDATE 1106 GMT:

At least six civilians have been killed and 28 injured by Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day.

Air defenses intercepted 110 of 123 drones. The other 13 struck seven locations.

In the Donetsk region in the east, two people were killed and five injured. In the Dnipropetrovsk region in south-central Ukraine, a man was slain and four people wounded.

In the Kherson region in the south, one person was murdered and three injured amid Russian attacks on 31 settlements. In the neighboring Zaporizhzhia, one civilian was killed and two wounded.

Casualties were also reported in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukraine says Russia has accepted a US proposal for security guarantees for Kyiv, following the end of Moscow’s 4-year full-scale invasion.

Presidential Chief of Staff Kyrylo Budanov said on Ukrainian television, “At the last talks, the Russian side said…that they would accept the security guarantees offered to Ukraine by the United States.”

Budanov assessed that Russia understands it may be “forced” to accept the guarantees.

But he said the Kremlin is still not agreeing to a summit between Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin, even though it has been proposed by Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff.

In his nightly address to the nation, Zelensky said he had met Ukraine’s negotiating team, led by Rustem Umerov, the chair of the National Security and Defense Committee.

We discussed the main outcomes of the Geneva meetings – mostly on economic matters and reconstruction – and we are continuing preparations for the trilateral format, whenever that may take place.

He noted that the time and location of the next Ukraine-Russia-US meeting may depend on developments in Iran and the Middle East, amid Israel-US strikes on the Islamic Republic.

“Ukrainians Made It Through This Winter”

On Sunday morning, Zelensky reported Russia’s firing of more than 1,720 attack drones, almost 1,300 guided aerial bombs, and more than 100 missiles across Ukraine over the past week.

Despite everything, Ukrainians made it through this difficult winter, when Russia did not even try to seek justification for its bestial strikes on civilian critical infrastructure.

He added a reference to the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader by the Israel-US strikes.

Evil must be confronted in every part of the world. When the United States and other partners show enough determination, even the bloodiest dictators ultimately pay for their crimes. I thank everyone who helps Ukraine defend itself and save lives.