Published on: 02/05/2026 - 06:56 Modified on: 02/06/2026 - 03:54

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized France's positions on Russia on Thursday, but recalled that Vladimir Putin was open to a discussion with Emmanuel Macron. Meanwhile, the summit between Russians, Ukrainians and Americans resulted in little progress, except for an exchange of 314 prisoners. Here is the thread for February 5, 2026.

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Nuclear disarmament: Trump calls for a “new, improved and modernized treaty” with Russia

Donald Trump called for a "new, improved and modernized treaty" with Russia, after the expiration of the last bilateral nuclear disarmament treaty between the two countries, New Start.

“Rather than extending the 'NEW START' treaty (...) we should ask our nuclear experts to work on a new, improved and modernized treaty that can last into the future,” the American president wrote on his Truth Social platform.

The New Start treaty expired on Thursday, marking a major turning point in the history of arms control since the Cold War and fueling proliferation fears.

New talks between Russians, Ukrainians and Americans planned "in the coming weeks"

New talks between Russians, Ukrainians and Americans are planned "in the coming weeks", announced kyiv's chief negotiator, after "constructive" discussions in Abu Dhabi. “The delegations agreed to inform their capitals and continue trilateral talks in the coming weeks,” Roustem Oumerov said on Telegram. According to him, the discussions focused in particular on “methods for implementing a ceasefire”.

In kyiv, 1,100 residential buildings without heating for at least two months

More than 1,100 residential buildings in kyiv will be without heating for at least two months in the middle of winter, after the thermal power station which served them suffered "critical" damage during a recent Russian attack, the mayor of kyiv said. “The site suffered critical damage and it will take at least two months to restore its systems and equipment,” Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on social media.

Vladimir Putin ready for Macron's call for "serious" discussion, says Lavrov

Vladimir Putin is ready for a call from his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron for "serious" discussions, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, while describing the French leader's statements on a possible resumption of dialogue with Moscow as "pathetic diplomacy".

“If you want to talk, and talk seriously about something, then call. Putin will always pick up the phone. He listens to all proposals,” said Sergei Lavrov in an interview with Russian media RT.

"Macron, about two weeks ago, said again 'I'm going to call Putin one day'. It's not serious, you know, it's a kind of pathetic diplomacy," he added.

Russia expels German diplomat, after similar measure from Berlin

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced the expulsion of a German diplomat in response to a similar measure from Berlin, which announced on January 22 the expulsion of a Russian diplomat for espionage.

“A note declaring persona non grata a diplomatic agent of the German Embassy in Moscow was given to the head of the German diplomatic mission, in symmetrical response to the decision of the German government,” Russian diplomacy said in a statement.

According to Moscow, Berlin bears "full responsibility for the new escalation in bilateral relations."

The expelled diplomat is "a member of the defense attaché's staff", German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said during a visit to Brunei, in Southeast Asia.

US, Russia to resume high-level military dialogue

The United States and Russia decided in Abu Dhabi to resume a high-level military-to-military dialogue, the Pentagon said, as the last nuclear disarmament treaty expired.

“Maintaining dialogue between the militaries is an important factor in global stability and peace, which can only be achieved through force, and provides a means to increase transparency and promote de-escalation,” the European Command of the US Armed Forces said in a statement.

End of negotiations in Abu Dhabi

Ukraine and Russia have carried out an exchange of prisoners agreed during negotiations in Abu Dhabi, announced Moscow, but the other files with a view to ending four years of war.

These talks between kyiv, Moscow and Washington ended Thursday in the Emirates after two days of discussion, said Diana Davitian, spokesperson for the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Roustem Umerov.

For the moment, this exchange of prisoners appears to be the only tangible result of these diplomatic exchanges, which have been struggling for months over the question of sharing territories between Moscow and kyiv.

See also: Ukraine, the United States and Russia around the table

The main Ukrainian negotiator reported “substantial and productive” discussions with Russia at the end of a new exchange session on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi under the mediation of the United States. We talk about it with our columnist Bruno Daroux.

US envoy Witkoff announces Ukrainian-Russian agreement on prisoner exchange

US envoy Steve Witkoff announced Thursday that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to carry out a new exchange of prisoners, the first in five months, during trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi which he hailed as "productive".

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

"This result was achieved through in-depth and productive peace talks. While there is still significant work to be done, progress like this demonstrates that sustained diplomatic engagement produces concrete results and contributes to efforts to end the war in Ukraine," he said.

Moscow expels German diplomat

“A note declaring persona non grata a diplomatic agent of the German Embassy in Moscow was given to the head of the German diplomatic mission, in symmetrical response to the decision of the German government,” Russian diplomacy said in a statement, considering that Berlin bears “full responsibility for the new escalation in bilateral relations.”

End of the New Start treaty: NATO calls for “restraint and responsibility”

Russia declared on Wednesday that it was "no longer bound" by the New Start nuclear disarmament treaty with the United States, which expires on Thursday, opening an era of uncertainty amid fears of a new arms race.

“We assume that the parties to the New Start Treaty are no longer bound by any obligations or reciprocal declarations under the treaty,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Shortly before, however, Russia assured that it would act in a “thoughtful and responsible” manner in nuclear matters.

The Kremlin says it regrets the expiration of the last nuclear disarmament treaty linking Washington and Moscow

Moscow reports 'progress' in talks, Russian envoy says

“There is undoubtedly progress,” Kremlin economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev told the press, while denouncing attempts by “war instigators from Europe (...) to obstruct this process.”

Second day of talks in Abu Dhabi begins, negotiator says

“The second day of discussions in Abu Dhabi has begun. We are working in the same format as yesterday: trilateral consultations, working group and alignment of positions accordingly,” indicated Ukrainian negotiator Roustem Oumerov.

Two injured in drone strike on kyiv

Two people were injured in a Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian capital, the city's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said.

The attack damaged residential buildings in one neighborhood and debris fell on the roof of an office building, causing a fire in another neighborhood, according to the city councilor.

A diplomatic advisor to Emmanuel Macron returning from Russia

Emmanuel Bonne, the diplomatic advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron, took part in discussions in Moscow on Tuesday with Yuri Ushakov, his counterpart to Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Reuters.

55,000 soldiers killed in Ukraine, according to Zelensky

Around 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since the start of the Ukrainian war in February 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday, also referring to a "large number" of those missing in their ranks.

“In Ukraine, officially, on the battlefield, the number of soldiers killed, whether career or mobilized, is 55,000. And there are a large number of people that Ukraine considers missing,” he told France 2, according to comments translated by the channel.

France “does not give up” in its economic support for Ukraine

France is "not giving up" in its economic support for Ukraine at war, French Minister for Foreign Trade Nicolas Forissier told AFP, at the end of a two-day visit to kyiv on Tuesday and Wednesday, and while France holds the presidency of the G7 in 2026.

With AFP and Reuters

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