US-Ukraine talks enter decisive phase, Trump casts himself Ukraine's only leverage in negotiations - Monday brief
RBC-Ukraine collage
US-Ukraine negotiations have entered a decisive phase, with Kyiv preparing documents on security guarantees and potential agreements with Washington. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has no leverage in the talks, casting himself as Ukraine’s only bargaining chip.
For more details on what happened on Monday, January 12, see the report.
Negotiations with US in decisive phase, and signing of documents being prepared - Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received a detailed report from the negotiation team on contacts with the US and instructed them to finalize a document on security guarantees for Ukraine from the United States, according to Zelenskyy’s post on Telegram.
According to Zelenskyy, the sides discussed the schedule for the next two weeks, including planned meetings, document preparation, and the potential signing of agreements.
The President instructed that work on the security guarantees document be completed and submitted for review at the highest level.
Norwegian FM reveals when Ukraine will get security commitments
Norway will begin providing Ukraine with security guarantees as soon as a ceasefire regime is achieved, says Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide at a press briefing.
Responding to a question from an RBC-Ukraine journalist, Barth confirmed that Norway is ready to provide Ukraine with security guarantees.
The Norwegian foreign minister noted that there are still details that need to be discussed within Ukraine as well.
Rutte: Russia using Oreshnik to undermine NATO support for Ukraine
Russia is using strikes with new missiles, including the Oreshnik, as a tool to intimidate the West in an effort to weaken support for Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.
According to Rutte, Russia's brutal war of aggression continues, and last week the use of an Oreshnik missile against Lviv was recorded. In addition, Moscow continues its massive attacks on Ukraine’s civilian and energy infrastructure.
The NATO chief stressed that these actions are aimed not only at Ukraine but also at its partners.
Trump on Zelenskyy: 'He doesn’t have the cards, only got one thing - Donald Trump'
US President Donald Trump believes that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy has no and never had any “cards” in negotiations. He noted that the Ukrainian president has only one thing — Donald Trump.
In an interview with The New York Times, Trump confirmed remarks he made in February that Zelenskyy has no "cards" in negotiations over Ukraine, and that he has had none from day one.
“He’s only got one thing. Donald Trump," the US President said.
Power plant hit in Russia's Rostov region, fire breaks out
In Novocherkassk, Russia’s Rostov region, a thermal power plant was attacked on the morning of January 12, according to the Astra Telegram channel.
As Astra writes, the source of the fire may have been the open switchgear of the Novocherkassk State District Power Plant (GRES). Through this facility, electricity from the plant is transmitted into the power grid.
Damage to the facility could significantly affect the operation of the power plant and the transmission of electricity to consumers.
