Here’s the latest update for Monday, February 10:

Conflict

• Russia’s Defence Ministry reported that its forces intercepted and destroyed 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, with the majority being neutralized over the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine.

• Ukraine’s armed forces claimed they shot down 70 of the 151 Russian drones launched overnight. Additionally, they reported that 74 failed to reach their intended targets.

• Kyiv's Mayor, Vitali Klitschko, confirmed a drone attack on the capital during the night, which caused a fire in a non-residential building. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a new offensive in Kursk and alleged that North Korean soldiers were aiding Russian troops. He stated that Ukrainian forces had inflicted heavy losses, with enemy casualties numbering in the hundreds.

• Russia’s Defence Ministry declared that its troops had taken control of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, a village in eastern Ukraine. This area is positioned near Chasiv Yar, a key military stronghold that Moscow is reportedly striving to capture.

Diplomacy and Politics

• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s request that Ukraine supply rare earth minerals in return for American aid, calling it “selfish and opportunistic.” He asserted that nations providing support should not demand compensation.

• Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is open to investment in its mineral resources but emphasized that it will not give away rare earth materials for free. “This is about partnership. Invest your resources, and contribute,” he urged.

• Zelenskyy also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of prolonging the conflict rather than seeking a ceasefire. Citing intelligence sources, he claimed that Russia’s collaboration with North Korea was deepening.

• Former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly told the New York Post that he had spoken with Putin over the phone to discuss ways to end the war. Trump declined to disclose the number of conversations but stated that Putin “wants the killing to stop.”

• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov neither confirmed nor denied reports of the phone call, according to the Russian state news agency TASS.

• Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, stated that Moscow was awaiting “clear signals” from Washington regarding potential discussions. He affirmed that Russia was open to negotiations with the U.S. concerning Ukraine, but only on “equal terms,” as reported by Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency.

• The Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia disconnected from Russia’s outdated energy grid and integrated with the European power network. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda confirmed the transition, declaring, “We have achieved total energy independence.”