Posted on 01/31/2026 8:49:31 AM PST by MinorityRepublican
Ukraine is racing to reinforce its air defenses as a brief pause in Russian strikes on Kyiv and other cities approaches its expiration, and military and diplomatic experts warn the move may do little to change conditions on the battlefield and could strengthen Moscow’s negotiating position.
Earlier Friday, President Donald Trump said at the White House, "I think we’re getting very close to getting a settlement," expressing optimism about the upcoming Russia-Ukraine talks. "Zelenskyy and Putin hate each other, and it makes it very difficult, but I think we have a good chance of getting it settled."
The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin agreed to a personal request from Trump to halt airstrikes on Kyiv until Feb. 1 to create what it described as favorable conditions for negotiations. Ukrainian officials stressed there is no formal ceasefire.
As temperatures in Kyiv are expected to plunge to minus-26 degrees Celsius beginning Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is moving to strengthen short-range air defenses against drones to protect frontline cities in the south and northeast.
"Protection against Russian drones must be reinforced in our cities, such as Kherson and Nikopol, as well as in the border communities of the Sumy region, where the Russians have essentially set up an ongoing ‘safari’ against civilians," Zelenskyy said on Telegram.
Despite the pause, Russian lawmakers and regional leaders have publicly urged escalation. Russian parliament speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said deputies are calling for the use of more powerful "weapons of retribution," while Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said he opposed negotiations altogether.
Against that backdrop, experts told Fox News Digital the pause appears far more symbolic than transformative.
Vice Adm. Robert S. Harward, a retired Navy SEAL and deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, said the halt in strikes reflects political signaling rather than a military shift.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
The Euros are not following through on their promised military and financial support and frankly, the supplies of air defense interceptors are depleted world wide so the Ukraine is hard pressed.
Which was totally obvious, predictable and inevitable - as are the rest of the impending procurement problems.
The time to cut a deal was a year ago when Trump could have included the recovery and rebuilding in Ukraine as part of a global economic development package he was putting together.
The Ukraine is now so much weaker, more destroyed and economically depleted that the only leverage that they have is that which Donald Trump provides to them
What a disaster.
Ukraine likely uses about 700 Patriot interceptors per year, which is roughly equal to or slightly more than the ~650 the U.S. currently manufactures annually.
Based on Lockheed Martin press releases and defense industry reporting, as well as open reporting on Ukraine’s air-defense usage from outlets such as The Kyiv Independent, Business Insider, and OSINT analysis shared on X.
President Trump has just promised all surplus Patriot production to Saudi Arabia
Denying the obvious about this conflict isn’t working anymore.
Russian demands are the same; surrender, so not sure what "deal" you're talking about.
The EU has approved a €90 billion "Ukraine Support Loan" for 2026-2027 to cover military and budgetary needs, with €60 billion for defense and €30 billion for budget support
https://www.gmfus.org/news/new-eu-loan-ukraine
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