Ukraine and Western allies prepare joint military response plan if Russia violates ceasefire.
Ukraine’s Retaliation Plan
Kyiv has discussed a response plan with the West for potential peace violations by Russia in December and January. The plan, agreed with the EU and US, involves a multi-stage response to renewed Russian attacks after a ceasefire. The first stage would be diplomatic warnings, followed by military participation from coalition forces including EU countries, Turkey, the UK, Iceland, and Norway. The US would support the retaliatory operation as part of Ukraine’s security guarantees.
Abu Dhabi Negotiations Resumption
The next trilateral meeting between Ukrainian, Russian, and US delegations is scheduled for February 4-6 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Ukraine is ready for substantive talks to achieve a real and dignified end to the war. The dates were established during a phone conversation with Americans. Moscow has also confirmed participation in peace negotiations with Ukraine, noting that in many issues, both sides found “common points.”
Largest Air Attack of the Year
Russia attacked Ukraine overnight February 2-3 with over 500 strike drones and more than 60 missiles of various types, according to preliminary Kyiv estimates. The enemy attacked cities including Kyiv and Kharkiv, breaking the so-called energy ceasefire. Power and heating outages are reported in the Ukrainian capital and other cities. In Kyiv, 1,170 buildings are without heating, mostly residential buildings. In Kharkiv, 820 buildings are without heating, with the city’s largest thermal power plant seriously damaged.
