Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia has no plans to attack any part of Europe but is prepared to respond militarily if attacked. He made the remarks in an interview with broadcaster NTV, according to TASS. Lavrov emphasized that Russia has no reason to launch an assault on Europe but would deliver a full military response if European nations decided to act on threats of war against Russia.

In late December 2025, during his year-end press conference, President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is not at war with the West, though Western countries are fighting Russia through Ukraine. Putin reiterated that Russia never sought conflict with Europe but warned that if Europe initiated war, there should be no doubt about Russia’s readiness to retaliate immediately.

The statements from both Lavrov and Putin appear aimed at reinforcing Russia’s stance that it seeks no confrontation with Europe while signaling readiness to respond decisively to any aggression.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev has warned that the world faces new risks if the New START nuclear arms control treaty is not renewed. Speaking from his residence outside Moscow, Medvedev told Reuters that for the first time since the early 1970s, the largest nuclear powers may have no limits on their arsenals. The treaty, signed in 2010 by then U.S. President Barack Obama and Medvedev, limited each side to 1,550 strategic nuclear weapons. It is set to expire on February 5, and Russian officials said Washington has not formally responded to President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to extend existing missile and warhead limits for another year.

Medvedev emphasized that arms control agreements have been vital not only for limiting weapons but also for maintaining trust and verification between major nuclear powers. He cautioned that the “doomsday clock is ticking” and urged timely action to prevent escalation. In January, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated he preferred the treaty to lapse, suggesting a better deal could follow.

The treaty’s future remains uncertain after Russia suspended its participation in 2023 due to U.S. support for Ukraine, raising concerns about renewed nuclear competition.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev stated that European nations have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine. In an interview cited by TRT World, he said Europe’s attempt to weaken Russia has instead caused severe damage to its own economy. Medvedev remarked that Europe has surprised him by undermining the very foundations of its existence, calling the situation astonishing.

He added that European powers sought to impose a strategic defeat on Russia but achieved nothing in that effort. During the same interview, Medvedev praised U.S. President Donald Trump as a leader who seeks peace. When asked whether Trump is positive or negative for Russia, Medvedev responded that the American people chose him and that Moscow respects that decision.

The comments reflect Russia’s continued criticism of Western policies toward the Ukraine conflict and highlight Moscow’s view that European sanctions and strategies have backfired economically.

A training aircraft crashed in Russia’s Orenburg region on Monday, February 2, killing three people, according to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations. The ministry said the aircraft, a Diamond DA model operated by Saint Petersburg State University of Civil Aviation, went down near the city of Orsk during a training flight. The victims included one instructor and two cadets, all of whom died at the scene.

The ministry’s statement added that the crash occurred in the village of Zhanatalap, near Orsk. When emergency rescuers arrived, there was no fire, but all three occupants had already died. The ministry did not provide any information regarding the possible cause of the accident.

According to the Orenburg governor and the regional government’s press service, local authorities will provide assistance to the families of the deceased.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in Moscow on Friday, according to the Kremlin. The meeting took place as tensions between Iran and the United States continue to escalate. The Kremlin confirmed that Putin welcomed Larijani, while Iran’s embassy in Moscow stated that the two discussed bilateral economic relations and key regional and international issues, though no further details were disclosed.

Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti reported that the visit had not been announced in advance and that Moscow has offered to mediate between Washington and Tehran. The meeting comes amid heightened friction between the US and Iran, with US President Donald Trump recently announcing that a “massive armada” was moving toward Iran and urging Tehran to return to negotiations.

The undisclosed details of the discussions suggest that Moscow may be seeking a diplomatic role in easing regional tensions, though the immediate outcomes of the meeting remain unclear.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday. The Kremlin considers the meeting significant as it seeks to secure the future of its military bases in Syria. The discussion will cover bilateral relations, cooperation in various sectors, and the current situation in the Middle East.

The meeting comes amid ongoing tension over the fate of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and his wife, who remain under Russian protection. Shara has repeatedly pressed Moscow to extradite them. The issue has become sensitive since Assad’s ouster in 2024, which weakened Russia’s influence in the region. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that all matters related to Russian troop presence in Syria would be discussed but declined to comment on Assad.

Analysts cited in the report believe the talks could shape Russia’s position in Syria and define its relationship with the new Syrian leadership, especially as Moscow recently withdrew forces from the Kurdish-held Qamishli airport, leaving only its Hmeimim and Tartus bases on the Mediterranean coast.

A United States delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss President Donald Trump’s draft plan aimed at ending the Ukraine war. According to a Kremlin statement released on Friday, the meeting lasted more than three hours. The delegation included Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and White House adviser Josh Gruenbaum.

Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov described the talks as realistic and constructive, noting that discussions covered not only Ukraine but also the peace board, the Greenland issue, and bilateral relations. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the draft plan was nearly finalized and that he had reached an understanding with Trump on post-war security guarantees.

Russia currently controls about 20 percent of Ukrainian territory and demands full control of the eastern Donbas region. Kyiv has warned that no peace deal can involve surrendering territory, arguing that such concessions would only encourage further Russian aggression.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that the ownership dispute between the United States and Denmark over Greenland is not a matter of concern for Russia. Speaking at a meeting of Russia’s Security Council, he stated that the issue should be resolved bilaterally between the two nations. Referring to historical land transfers, Putin estimated Greenland’s potential sale value at around $1 billion.

Putin criticized Denmark’s historical governance of Greenland, describing it as colonial and harsh toward local residents. He also noted that Russia would not object to US pressure regarding Greenland, citing past examples of territorial sales such as Russia’s sale of Alaska to the US in 1867 and Denmark’s sale of the Virgin Islands in 1917. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland has strained transatlantic relations, though he ruled out tariffs or military action during a speech in Davos.

Residents of Greenland reportedly welcomed Trump’s assurance against military use, while Russia remains displeased with Denmark’s military and financial support for Ukraine since 2022. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov added that Greenland is not naturally or historically an inseparable part of Denmark.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed donating $1 billion to U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly formed ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza reconstruction. The proposal suggests using Russian assets frozen in U.S. banks during the previous Biden administration. Putin made the remarks during a meeting of Russia’s Security Council, where he also confirmed receiving Trump’s invitation to join the Gaza Peace Board but said Moscow has not yet made a decision.

Putin expressed gratitude to Trump for the invitation and emphasized that Russia’s relationship with the Palestinian people has always been special. He stated that Moscow would decide on joining the board only after reviewing the invitation and consulting with strategic allies. Putin added that the donation proposal should proceed even before Russia finalizes its decision on participation.

The proposal links humanitarian assistance for Gaza with the issue of frozen Russian funds in the United States, highlighting Moscow’s interest in leveraging seized assets for international cooperation under Trump’s peace initiative.

Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula has experienced its heaviest snowfall in 130 years, leaving towns and cities buried under massive snowdrifts. Local authorities reported snow accumulation ranging from 10 to 40 feet, with some multi-story buildings covered up to the fourth floor. The severe blizzard has caused fatalities due to snow pressure and avalanches. On January 15, Mayor Yevgeny Belyayev declared a state of emergency in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the region’s administrative center.

The extreme weather has paralyzed transportation, forcing road closures and flight cancellations. Power outages have been reported across several areas, and schools, offices, and businesses remain shut, confining residents indoors. Shortages of essential goods such as bread, milk, and eggs have emerged as snow-blocked roads disrupt supply chains.

Meteorologists attributed the continuous heavy snowfall and strong winds to multiple low-pressure systems over the Sea of Okhotsk. They warned that the harsh conditions could persist for several more days, prolonging the region’s crisis.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has described Pakistan as a close partner of Russia, emphasizing that the relationship between the two nations is essential for protecting mutual interests. The statement came after Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, formally presented his credentials to Putin at a ceremony in Moscow. During the event, Tirmizi conveyed greetings and best wishes from Pakistan’s President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the Pakistani people.

According to the Russian Embassy in Pakistan, Putin noted that Moscow maintains close cooperation with Islamabad in economic, technological, and humanitarian areas, particularly as both countries are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. He said bilateral collaboration is expanding in trade, diplomacy, education, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, railways, industry, health, and information technology.

The report added that Pakistan has strengthened ties with Russia in recent years as Moscow seeks new energy markets following Western sanctions over Ukraine, while Islamabad aims to reduce import costs. Pakistan began purchasing Russian crude oil in 2023.

Russia has accused a British diplomat stationed in Moscow of engaging in espionage, prompting a swift rejection from the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office. The accusation was followed by Russia’s announcement on Thursday that the diplomat would be expelled from the country.

According to a report from London citing AFP, the UK Foreign Office dismissed the charge as malicious and entirely unfounded. In its statement, the ministry said that such politically motivated allegations from the Kremlin against British diplomats were not new. It added that London was reviewing possible responses to the expulsion and the accusation.

Observers noted that this incident could further escalate diplomatic tensions between Moscow and London, which have already been strained by previous disputes.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that Moscow will continue its trade relations with Iran despite the recent U.S. decision to impose an additional 25 percent tariff on countries trading with Tehran. Speaking at a press conference in Moscow, Lavrov said Russia must carry on its work and implement existing agreements with Iran and other economic partners.

The Kremlin criticized the U.S. move, describing it as an attempt to isolate Iran. Lavrov argued that when a powerful country like the United States resorts to such measures, it signals a weakening position in the competitive global market. The statement came after China also rejected the U.S. tariff decision and confirmed its intention to maintain economic ties with Iran.

The Russian stance underscores continued resistance among key global players to U.S. economic pressure on Iran, suggesting that Washington’s tariff policy may face limited international compliance.

A Russian commander has claimed that his unit shot down a US-made F-16 fighter jet operated by Ukraine. In an interview broadcast on Russia-1 TV, the commander, identified as Sevar, said the aircraft was the most attractive target for his unit. According to him, two missiles were fired at the jet, with the first damaging it and the second delivering the final strike. Sevar stated that the operation took considerable preparation time and that his team had been tracking the aircraft before it entered their target zone. He did not specify when the incident occurred.

Meanwhile, Ukraine reportedly carried out separate attacks on three Russian oil extraction facilities in the Caspian Sea and launched drone strikes on the city of Voronezh. The governor of the Voronezh region, Alexander Gusev, confirmed that one woman was killed and three others were injured in the drone attack. Several drones were shot down over the city, but casualties could not be avoided. The extent of damage to the Caspian oil facilities remains unclear.

The developments highlight continuing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides reporting strikes across multiple fronts.

A Ukrainian drone attack killed one person and injured three others in the Russian city of Voronezh, local officials said on Sunday. Governor Alexander Gusev reported that a young woman died overnight in hospital after debris from a drone fell on a house. More than ten apartment buildings, private homes, and a high school were damaged. Gusev added that air defences shot down 17 drones over the city, describing the incident as one of the heaviest drone attacks since the start of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.

Ukraine did not immediately comment on the Voronezh attack but has previously said it targets sites inside Russia to disrupt Moscow’s war effort and respond to repeated missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. The assault followed Russia’s launch of a hypersonic Oreshnik missile on Friday at a site in Ukraine near NATO member Poland, which European allies viewed as an attempt to discourage continued support for Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said negotiations with the United States were ongoing. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s General Staff reported that Russia launched 154 drones overnight into Sunday, with 125 intercepted by Ukrainian defences.