United News of Bangladesh

Ukraine has condemned a fresh wave of Russian attacks that killed one person and injured 23 others overnight, as peace talks with Russia and the United States resumed in Abu Dhabi. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the strikes as “brutal” and said the attacks hit not only civilians but also the peace process. He said the assault showed Russia was not serious about negotiations. According to officials, one person was killed and four others were wounded in drone attacks on the capital Kyiv. In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, 19 people were injured during heavy overnight strikes, local authorities said. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said three of the injured were taken to hospital. He also said critical infrastructure was damaged, leaving about 6,000 buildings without heating as temperatures remain below freezing. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia mainly targeted energy facilities during the attacks. In Kharkiv, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said a maternity hospital and a shelter for displaced people were damaged. The attacks came as delegations from Ukraine, Russia and the US held a second day of talks in Abu Dhabi, the first known trilateral discussions since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said the talks focused on ways to end the war and move toward a lasting and dignified peace. However, Ukrainian officials said the key issue of territory remains unresolved. Russia currently controls about 20 percent of Ukrainian territory, including parts of the eastern Donbas region. Moscow wants Ukraine to give up more land, a demand Kyiv has rejected.   With inputs from BBC

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the future of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region will be a central issue as negotiators from Ukraine, Russia and the United States hold talks in Abu Dhabi aimed at ending Russia’s nearly four-year full-scale invasion. The UAE foreign ministry said the talks, which began Friday and continue Saturday, are intended “to promote dialogue and identify political solutions to the crisis.” The White House described the first day of discussions as productive. Hours before the three-way talks opened, Russian President Vladimir Putin held overnight discussions on a possible settlement with US President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The Kremlin reiterated that any peace deal would require Ukraine to withdraw its troops from eastern territories illegally annexed by Russia but not fully controlled. Zelenskyy said after meeting Trump on Thursday in Davos, Switzerland, that while the status of Russian-occupied land in eastern Ukraine remains unresolved, peace proposals are “nearly ready.” He also said he discussed with Trump the idea of establishing a Ukraine-controlled free trade zone in the east, calling it potentially positive for business. Friday marked the first known instance of Trump administration officials meeting simultaneously with representatives from both Ukraine and Russia. Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian delegation was updating him almost hourly. “They are discussing the parameters for ending the war,” Zelenskyy said in a late-night address. “The most important thing is whether Russia is ready to end the war it started.” He cautioned that it was too early to draw conclusions. The Kremlin described the talks as a security working group, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov again calling troop withdrawal from Donbas an “important condition.” Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said a lasting settlement would not be possible without resolving territorial issues, while Russian media reported discussions on buffer zones and control measures. US officials confirmed that Witkoff and Kushner were joined in Abu Dhabi by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and NATO’s top military commander, US Air Force Gen Alexus Grynkewich. Ukraine’s delegation includes senior security and military officials. Earlier in Davos, Zelenskyy met Trump for about an hour, describing the talks as productive. Trump later said both sides want a deal but that territorial boundaries remain the main obstacle. Russia currently controls about 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory, though gains have come at high military and economic cost. Ukraine continues to face financial strain, manpower shortages and dependence on Western military support. Zelenskyy also sharply criticised European allies, accusing them of slow decision-making, insufficient defence spending and reluctance to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. “Europe looks lost,” he said, warning that the continent risks repeating the same mistakes unless it takes stronger action.

Russian strikes on Ukraine killed at least one person and injured 23 others overnight into Saturday, as negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States met in Abu Dhabi for a second day of talks aimed at ending Russia’s nearly four-year full-scale invasion. Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said one person was killed and four others wounded in Russian drone attacks on the Ukrainian capital. In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, drone strikes injured 19 people, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported Saturday. The attacks coincided with the continuation of three-way talks in the United Arab Emirates, marking the first known instance of officials from the Trump administration engaging directly with both countries to push for progress toward ending the conflict. The UAE foreign ministry said the talks are intended “to promote dialogue and identify political solutions to the crisis,” while the White House called Friday’s first day productive. Diplomatic activity has intensified in recent days, from Switzerland to Moscow, although major obstacles remain, particularly regarding territorial issues. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told a Davos forum on Thursday that a potential peace deal is “nearly ready,” but key sticking points remain unresolved. Just hours before the talks began, Russian President Vladimir Putin held overnight discussions with Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on a Ukraine settlement. The Kremlin maintains that Kyiv must withdraw its troops from areas in the east that Russia illegally annexed but has yet to fully control for any deal to succeed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the first trilateral talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States could be a step toward ending the war, as negotiators head to Abu Dhabi. Zelensky said the status of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region will be the key issue at the talks, adding that different outcomes are possible. He said he hopes for a positive result. The meeting is expected to be the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 that all three sides take part in talks linked to a possible settlement. Zelensky said he discussed Donbas with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. He also said the two leaders finalised future US security guarantees for Ukraine if a deal is reached, and talked about additional air defence needs. The talks come after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin met Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow. The Kremlin described that discussion as useful and very frank. Speaking on Air Force One, Trump said he believed both Putin and Zelensky want to make a deal, but said it remains to be seen what happens. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported continued Russian strikes. Emergency services said four people, including a five-year-old boy, were killed in a drone attack in eastern Ukraine. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko again urged residents to consider leaving the city as thousands of buildings remain without heating during freezing temperatures.   With inputs from BBC

Greenland’s location in the Arctic places it at the heart of global nuclear defense planning, a reality highlighted anew by U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed push for his proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system. In any hypothetical nuclear conflict involving the United States, Russia and China, intercontinental ballistic missiles would likely travel along the shortest routes, over the Arctic. That trajectory makes Greenland a critical point for early detection and potential interception. Trump has argued that U.S. ownership of Greenland is essential for the success of the multibillion-dollar “Golden Dome,” a layered missile defense system he claims will be operational before 2029. He has said modern offensive and defensive weapons systems make control of the territory especially important, sparking alarm in Denmark and among Greenlanders. A key element of Greenland’s importance is the Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base. Located above the Arctic Circle, the base hosts a powerful early-warning radar capable of detecting and tracking ballistic missile launches from thousands of kilometers away, including missiles fired from Russia or China toward the United States. Defense analysts note that the base gives Washington valuable extra minutes to assess and respond to potential attacks. The radar can monitor large swaths of the Arctic and detect objects as small as a car, according to the U.S. Air Force. However, experts question Trump’s claim that U.S. ownership of Greenland is necessary. The United States has operated at Pituffik for decades under a 1951 defense agreement with Denmark, without sovereignty over the island. Analysts also point out that other allied locations, such as early-warning radar sites in the United Kingdom, play similar roles without any U.S. ownership claims. Some experts argue that emerging space-based sensors planned under the “Golden Dome” could eventually reduce Greenland’s strategic importance. They also note that Denmark has historically been a highly cooperative U.S. ally, making expanded military access possible without drastic political steps. As debates continue, Greenland remains a pivotal, and sensitive, crossroads in global nuclear defense calculations.

The Ambassadors of Russia, Norway, Sweden and Denmark in Dhaka met BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Tuesday and discussed various issues related to bilateral interests and ways to strengthen future ties with Bangladesh. The envoys of Norway, Sweden and Denmark in Dhaka first met Tarique around 11:00am at the BNP Chairman’s Gulshan office. Later, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Grigoryevich Khozin also held a meeting with the BNP Chairman at the same office. BNP Joint Secretary General Humayun Kabir, Chairman’s Advisory Council member Dr Mahdi Amin, Press Secretary Saleh Shibly and BNP International Affairs Secretary Rashedul Haq were present at the meetings. Briefing reporters afterwards, Humayun Kabir said the meetings were courtesy calls and focused on issues of national interest, including ways to strengthen bilateral relations with friendly countries in the coming days. “I said yesterday (Monday) as well that there is special interest within the international community in BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman—both in his leadership and his vision for Bangladesh’s development,” he said. The BNP leader said the talks covered areas such as trade, investment, energy and education, as well as how BNP’s proposed 31-point reform programme could be implemented if the party receives a public mandate in the February-12 election. EU delegation meets Tarique Rahman “We discussed how we can work together through foreign economic cooperation and strengthen bilateral relations in the interest of Bangladesh,” he said. Asked whether the upcoming election was discussed in detail, Humayun Kabir said there was no specific or technical discussion on the polls. “There was no detailed discussion on the election. But the diplomats showed interest in Bangladesh’s February 12 election and expressed hope that the country is moving towards a democratic space and democratic transition,” he said. Humayun said both the people of Bangladesh and the international community are hopeful about the restoration of democracy through a free, fair and credible election. “After 17 years, people are excited that they may finally get a real opportunity to cast their votes. In the same way, the international community is also excited that Bangladesh is moving towards democratic transition,” he said. Humayun Kabir said the envoys believe the election can create a genuine opportunity for people to participate in the democratic process. “In previous elections, people did not really get the chance to vote. This election can give Bangladeshi citizens the opportunity to exercise their voting rights,” he said. Replying to a question about Russia’s long-standing interest in selling defence equipment to Bangladesh, Humayun Kabir clarified that the issue did not come up in the meetings. New US envoy meets Tarique Rahman “There was no discussion on defence equipment. No technical or detailed talks took place on that issue,” he said. Humayun Kabir described the meetings as introductory and cordial, noting that since Tarique Rahman’s political return on December 25, he has become a major focus of interest for the international community.

Russia on Thursday ordered a British diplomat to leave the country over alleged espionage, a charge the U.K. dismissed as “baseless.” The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) accused the embassy staff member of working for British intelligence but did not provide any evidence. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that the diplomat’s accreditation had been revoked and that the individual must leave Russia within two weeks. Danae Dholakia, the U.K.’s chargé d’affaires in Russia, was summoned to the ministry in Moscow to receive the notice. “Moscow will not tolerate undeclared British intelligence activities on Russian soil,” the ministry said, adding that it would respond in kind to any retaliatory measures from London. Read more: Russia attacks Ukraine's power grid again in freezing cold The U.K. Foreign Office said it was “carefully considering” a response and condemned Russia’s expulsion as part of a pattern of “malicious and baseless” accusations against British diplomats. “Targeting British diplomats in this way undermines the basic conditions necessary for diplomatic missions to function,” the office said. Relations between Russia and NATO countries have deteriorated to Cold War-era lows, with multiple rounds of mutual diplomat expulsions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In March 2025, Moscow expelled two other British diplomats on spying allegations, which the U.K. also rejected as false.

Russia carried out another large-scale drone and missile attack on Ukraine its second in four days, Ukrainian officials said Tuesday, once again targeting energy infrastructure during subzero conditions. The strikes appeared to dismiss U.S.-backed peace initiatives as Moscow’s invasion nears its fourth year. Russia unleashed a massive overnight aerial assault on Ukraine, firing nearly 300 drones along with 18 ballistic and seven cruise missiles across eight regions, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. One strike in the northeastern Kharkiv region hit a mail depot, killing four people and injuring at least 10 others. In the Kyiv region, hundreds of thousands of households were left without electricity as freezing weather gripped the country. Kyiv has endured subzero temperatures for more than two weeks, with daytime readings dropping to minus 12 degrees Celsius. Ice-coated streets, snow-covered sidewalks and the constant hum of generators underscored the city’s worsening energy crisis. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the latest strikes caused the most severe power outage the capital has experienced so far, leaving more than 500 residential buildings without central heating. Residents sought warmth wherever possible. Many gathered at government-run “Points of Invincibility,” temporary shelters offering food, heat and electricity. Olena Davydova, a Kyiv resident, said her family had gone nearly two days without power, forcing them to adapt by sharing beds for warmth, storing food outdoors and relying on candles at night. Elsewhere, friends and relatives crowded into apartments that still had electricity or hot water to charge phones, shower and share warm drinks. City authorities ordered daily hot meals for vulnerable residents and announced bonuses for utility workers laboring around the clock to restore essential services. Read More: Ukrainian drone strike kills one, injures three in Russian city of Voronezh The attack followed another large-scale Russian barrage just four days earlier, which included the rare use of a hypersonic missile. The United States condemned the renewed strikes as a dangerous escalation, accusing Moscow of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure to deprive Ukrainians of heat and water-a tactic Ukrainian officials call “weaponizing winter.” In response, Ukraine carried out drone strikes inside Russia, reportedly hitting a drone manufacturing facility in Taganrog. Russian officials said 11 Ukrainian drones were intercepted, though damage was reported. Independent verification of the claims was not possible.

Poland said Wednesday it shot down drones that violated its airspace during Russia’s latest large-scale aerial assault on Ukraine, forcing the temporary closure of four airports and putting its armed forces on the highest state of alert. The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces claimed in a statement, “During today’s attack by the Russian Federation targeting Ukraine, our airspace was repeatedly violated by drones.” “At the request of the operational commander, weapons have been used, and operations are under way to locate the downed targets”, the military said. Polish and NATO aircraft were scrambled, while ground-based air defence and radar systems were moved to maximum readiness. Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that “an operation is under way related to multiple violations of Polish airspace.” Earlier, flights were suspended at Warsaw’s Chopin Airport, Rzeszow–Jasionka Airport, Modlin Airport, and Lublin Airport, according to notices on the US Federal Aviation Administration’s website. The Polish military did not directly mention the closures. Ukraine’s Air Force initially reported that Russian drones had crossed into Polish territory, posing a threat to the southeastern city of Zamosc. But  the statement was later removed later. Overnight, much of Ukraine — including western border regions Volyn and Lviv — was under extended air raid alerts. Border with Belarus to close amid Russian-led drillsSeparately, Poland said it will close its border with Belarus from midnight Thursday due to Russian-Belarusian military exercises known as “Zapad-2025,” scheduled to begin Friday in western Russia and Belarus. The drills have raised alarm in NATO countries bordering Belarus — Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said the border would reopen only when the government is sure “there is no more threat to Polish citizens.” Belarus summoned Poland’s chargé d’affaires to protest the move, calling it “an abuse of geographical position” that “caused significant difficulties.” Its Foreign Ministry said the suspension reflected “an intention to conceal one’s own actions rather than any real threat from Belarus.” Lithuania also announced it would tighten border security with both Belarus and Russia during the drills.

Russia has become the first nation to officially recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan, drawing sharp criticism from opposition figures and rights activists. The decisin marks a significant diplomatic breakthrough for the Taliban nearly four years after they seized control of Kabul and re-established their rule. Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi expressed hope that Russia’s decision would encourage other nations to follow suit. So far, most countries have hesitated to recognise the Taliban administration due to its strict interpretation of Sharia law and severe restrictions on women and girls. Critics, however, have strongly condemned Moscow’s recognition. Former Afghan politician Fawzia Koofi warned that normalising relations with the Taliban would not bring peace but rather embolden impunity. She further cautioned that such actions could endanger both Afghan citizens and global security. The Afghan Women's Political Participation Network echoed these concerns, saying the recognition legitimises a "regime that is authoritarian, anti-women, and systematically dismantling basic civil rights." The Taliban maintains that they respect women's rights within the framework of their interpretation of Afghan culture and Islamic law. However, since they regained power in 2021, girls above the age of 12 have been barred from receiving an education, and women have been excluded from many professions. Additional restrictions include limiting women’s ability to travel without a male guardian and bans on women raising their voices in public. Russia launches largest air attack on Kyiv since war began Muttaqi described Russia’s move, announced on Thursday, as the beginning of "a new phase of positive relations, mutual respect, and constructive engagement," calling the decision "courageous." Russia’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement, highlighted prospects for expanded economic cooperation with Afghanistan in sectors such as energy, transportation, agriculture, and infrastructure. The ministry also pledged continued support to Kabul in fighting terrorism and drug trafficking. Unlike many other countries, Russia kept its embassy in Kabul open after the Taliban took power in 2021, following the withdrawal of US and allied troops. In 2022, Russia also became the first country to sign a major economic agreement with the Taliban, involving the supply of oil, gas, and wheat to Afghanistan. Earlier this year, in April, Russia removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organisations, further paving the way for official engagement. Russian President Vladimir Putin had already referred to the Taliban as an "ally" in combating terrorism during remarks made in July last year. The relationship between the two countries, however, remains complex. The Soviet Union, led by Russia, invaded Afghanistan in 1979, leading to a devastating nine-year conflict that resulted in the deaths of approximately 15,000 Soviet troops. The Soviet-backed government installed in Kabul faced international condemnation, eventually forcing a Soviet withdrawal in 1989. In response to Russia’s latest decision, the Afghan Women's Political Participation Network recalled the Soviet invasion, saying they had not forgotten Russia’s role in Afghanistan’s destruction. The group accused Moscow of continuing its harmful interference under the guise of diplomacy. Former Afghan National Security Adviser Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta also criticised Russia's recognition, calling it "regrettable." He warned that in the absence of widespread opposition, other countries might follow Russia’s example. Following the Taliban takeover in 2021, the United Nations imposed strict sanctions on Afghanistan, including the freezing of around $9 billion in assets. The UN has condemned the Taliban’s treatment of women, labelling the restrictions as "gender apartheid," while also reporting incidents of public floggings and brutal attacks on former government officials. Despite widespread international refusal to recognise the Taliban, some countries have maintained or adjusted their relations. Germany, for example, is considering re-establishing deportations of convicted Afghan criminals. Although Germany halted deportations after the Taliban’s return to power, politician Alexander Dobrindt said Thursday that Berlin should negotiate directly with Afghan authorities to resume deportations. However, the UN Human Rights Office warned on Friday that returning individuals to Afghanistan would be inappropriate, citing ongoing human rights violations under the Taliban regime. While most countries shut their embassies in Kabul after 2021, a few—including China, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan—continue to maintain formal diplomatic representation by appointing ambassadors to Afghanistan. #With Inputs from BBC