War in Ukraine: a Trump-Putin meeting in preparation, French Mirages delivered to kyiv… an update on the situation

Every day, Midi Libre takes stock of the situation in Ukraine. This Thursday, February 6, 2025, discover the latest news about this conflict

Preparations for the Putin-Trump meeting at an advanced stage

Preparations for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump are at an “advanced stage,” a Russian lawmaker was quoted as saying by RIA news agency on Thursday. Leonid Slutsky, head of the Duma's international affairs committee, said the meeting could take place in February or March.

Both Trump and Putin have indicated they are interested in holding a meeting that could include nuclear arms control and global energy prices, as well as the US president's stated goal of ending the war in Ukraine as soon as possible. Slutsky said he expected the situation in the Middle East to be discussed at the meeting as well.

“This work requires serious preparation, which – I will not reveal any secrets – is currently at an advanced stage,” he said. Leonid Slutsky declined to comment on the exact date of the meeting. “February or March – let's not guess and give leaders the opportunity to prepare competently and comprehensively, but it will be soon.”

The European aerospace and defense stocks index fell into the red at 11:10 GMT, after hitting a high earlier in the day, losing as much as 1.4% after Reuters reported that preparations for the meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin were at an advanced stage.

Saab AB, Rheinmetall, Hensoldt, Leonardo, Thales and BAE Systems were down in the afternoon, at levels ranging from 1.2% to around 4.8% around 3:15 p.m. The STOXX 600 index was up 0.89% at the same time. Analysts have said a ceasefire in Ukraine could trigger a slide in sector stocks, but investors remain optimistic about the outlook for defense spending by NATO countries.

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U.S. allies expect the Trump administration to present a plan to end Russia’s war on Ukraine at the Munich Security Conference in Germany next week, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

First French Mirage 2000s, Dutch F-16s Delivered to Ukraine

Ukraine announced on Thursday the receipt of a first batch of French Mirage 2000s and F-16 fighters delivered by the Netherlands, technological support welcomed by kyiv as a significant reinforcement in the fight against “Russian aggression”. The Mirage 2000s will be flown by Ukrainian pilots trained in France in recent months, French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu said on X.

The fighter jets manufactured by Dassault Aviation “will now participate in defending the skies of Ukraine”in the face of Russian missile and aircraft attacks, he wrote. The delivery to Ukraine of Mirage 2000s, gradually withdrawn from service in France in favor of the Rafale, had been considered for years, but kyiv initially favored the acquisition of a larger number of American F-16s supplied by several European countries. The exact number of Mirages and F-16s transferred to Ukraine has not been made public.

The Dutch Defense Ministry declined to comment on the delivery date and the number of aircraft involved for security reasons. “These modern combat aircraft have already arrived in Ukraine and will soon begin to perform combat missions, strengthening our defense and improving our ability to effectively counter Russian aggression,” said Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. France is hosting an international conference on Ukraine on February 12, with its main European allies, the United Kingdom and the United States, to discuss support for kyiv.

Ukrainian army counterattacks in Kursk region failed

Ukrainian troops attempted a counterattack Thursday in the Kursk region in western Russia, but were repelled by the Russian army, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Units, supported by armored vehicles, attacked in several waves near the towns of Ulanok and Cherkasskaya Konopelka, but were repelled. The villages remain under Russian control, the ministry said. Reuters could not independently confirm the report.