Moscow Confirms U.S.-Requested Kyiv Pause as Tehran Warns of Regional War, Signals Talks

Overview

• Kremlin officials say President Trump asked Vladimir Putin to halt strikes on Kyiv for a week and that Russia would refrain until Feb. 1 to create space for negotiations.
• Ukraine reports continued attacks despite pause claims, citing one Iskander‑M missile and 111 attack drones overnight Jan. 29–30, with 80 drones downed and civilian casualties in Kharkiv region.
• A limited arrangement to spare energy infrastructure is under discussion; President Zelensky says no formal deal exists, though he noted no overnight hits on energy sites aside from a gas facility in Donetsk region.
• U.S., Russian and Ukrainian delegations are set to resume trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, with Kyiv saying no compromise has been reached on contested eastern territories or prisoner exchanges.
• In parallel, Iran places forces on maximum alert and threatens responses including closing the Strait of Hormuz, Khamenei warns a U.S. strike would trigger a regional war, and senior Iranian officials signal progress toward a nuclear negotiation framework that excludes missiles and defense.