Russia Today: Ukraine Peace Talks Derailed, Record Missile Strikes, and Iran War Impact
Russia is dominating three major global storylines simultaneously this week — a stalled Ukraine peace process, a record-breaking winter missile campaign against Ukraine, and a dramatic strategic shift triggered by the U.S.-Israel war against Iran. Here is the full Russia news update for Thursday, March 5, 2026.
Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Upended by Middle East War
A new round of trilateral negotiations between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine was scheduled to take place from March 5 to 8 in Abu Dhabi — but the talks are now in serious doubt due to the active fighting in the Middle East.
Zelensky confirmed the talks have not been canceled but may be relocated to Turkey or Switzerland given the situation on the ground. No final venue has been confirmed as of Thursday morning ET.
Ukraine and U.S. officials previously met in Geneva to discuss post-war reconstruction, even as a deal to end the war remains elusive. Putin's special economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev also held separate talks with U.S. officials in Geneva, signaling back-channel diplomacy continues despite public uncertainty.
Zelensky has repeated his desire for a direct meeting with Putin to break the deadlock, but the Kremlin has shown no public willingness to engage at that level.
Russia Hits Ukraine With Record Missiles in February
Russia fired more missiles at Ukraine in February than in any other month since at least the beginning of 2023. Russian forces launched 288 missiles at Ukraine in February — an increase of roughly 113% compared to the 135 missiles launched in January, the highest number of missiles launched at night in a single month since Kyiv's air force started routinely publishing statistics at the beginning of 2023.
Russia also launched 5,059 long-range drones in February — an increase of around 13% compared to January. Zelensky confirmed that over the three months of winter, Russia launched more than 14,670 guided aerial bombs, 738 missiles, and nearly 19,000 attack drones against Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure.
Since early March, Russia has sharply increased attacks on Ukrainian railway rolling stock, with up to six such attacks occurring per day and 41 rail objects damaged in just the past few days, according to Ukraine's national railway operator.
Russia and the Iran War: Short-Term Gain, Long-Term Threat
The U.S.-Israel war against Iran presents Russia with a double-edged situation. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent European gas prices soaring by 25 to 45% — a direct windfall for Russia, whose economy is deeply dependent on energy export revenues and benefits from higher global oil prices.
But Russian analysts are deeply alarmed by the broader implications. One analyst told the Moscow Times: "Everything that is happening in the Middle East is threatening Russian interests. It's a change of norm, a change of pattern — how world powers act towards authoritarian countries. And certainly it's not a good signal for Russia."
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said there is no sign Iran is seeking a nuclear bomb and condemned the strikes. Russia has been a key partner of Tehran for years, supplying military technology and maintaining close economic ties — all of which are now at serious risk.
Russia-Ukraine Front Line: Key Battlefield Developments
Russian forces have liberated Krugloye in the Kharkiv region as well as Drobyshevo and Reznikovka in the Donetsk People's Republic, according to Russia's Defense Ministry. Ukrainian Armed Forces losses were reported at 1,260 military personnel in a single day, along with the destruction of two Vampire MLRS vehicles, two Neptune missiles, and 679 Ukrainian drones.
Russia and Ukraine also exchanged remains — Moscow handed over 1,000 bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers and received 35 Russian soldiers' remains in return, a significant if somber development that signals ongoing back-channel communication between the two warring governments.
Russia Retaliates Against EU Over Diplomatic Cuts
Russia vowed retaliation after the European Union cut Moscow's diplomatic representation in Brussels to just 40 personnel, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova calling the move "discriminatory" and warning it would not go unanswered. Russia also stated that the EU does not deserve a seat at the negotiating table for any Ukraine settlement deal.
