First Thing: Russian and US officials meet in Riyadh – without Ukrainians

Negotiations get under way, with Kyiv and other European powers sidelined. Plus, why gen Z has ditched capitalization

Good morning.

The negotiations over a ceasefire in Ukraine between the US and Russia, with Kyiv and other European powers sidelined, have begun in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

In Paris, meanwhile, European leaders met on Monday for an emergency summit convened by France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, over Ukraine’s future and their role in the negotiations. After the meeting, Macron wrote on social media that he had spoken to Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

He asserted that European partners “seek a strong and lasting peace in Ukraine”, and Russia “must end its aggression, and this must be accompanied by strong and credible security guarantees for the Ukrainians”. The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, appealed to the US to provide a security guarantee in Ukraine, saying it was vital to deter Russia from attacking again.

What was said in Paris? There were calls for boosts in defence spending – but some, notably Germany, wanted to stymie discussion of European boots on the ground in peacekeeping efforts.

What has Ukraine said? Zelenskyy has said Kyiv will not recognize any deal made without its participation.

Trump names January 6 activist as top DC prosecutor

Donald Trump has nominated a conservative activist who has repeatedly backed the actions of the January 6 insurrectionists to serve as permanent top federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia.

Trump picked Ed Martin for US attorney for the District of Columbia, the top prosecutor for all serious local crimes by adults in the district. Martin has pushed Trump’s baseless claim that the 2020 election was stolen, including speaking at a Stop the Steal rally in DC on 5 January, and has said he was part of the crowds of Trump supporters who massed near the White House on 6 January.

Does he immediately get the role? He has been serving in an interim capacity since Trump’s second term began; his permanent appointment must be confirmed by the Senate.

Lebanon says it will consider any remaining Israeli troops on its lands an occupation

Lebanon will consider any remaining Israeli troops on its territory an occupation, a spokesperson for Lebanon’s presidency has said, stressing it has the right to use all means to achieve a complete withdrawal.

While the IDF has left border villages in southern Lebanon, forces remain at five posts in Lebanon. Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, said the IDF would remain there to guard against any ceasefire violations by Hezbollah.

Hezbollah’s secretary general, Naim Qassem, said over the weekend that any Israeli military presence remaining in Lebanon after 18 February would be dealt with as an occupying force.

What is happening in Gaza? Oxfam’s post-ceasefire assessment has found that the vast majority of water and sanitation infrastructure has been destroyed.

In other news …

The Trump administration has filed its first supreme court appeal on the firing of the head of a federal agency dedicated to protecting whistleblowers, in what is being read as a key moment for the judicial branch.

A plane flipped upside down while landing at Toronto’s Pearson airport on Monday, leaving at least 18 people injured.

A Jewish man in Miami Beach opened fire on two men he believed were Palestinians, according to arrest documents, but who reportedly were in fact Israelis.

Stat of the day: Migrants made up less than 2% of Spain’s population in 1998 – now it’s 15%

In Spain, where migrants have gone from making up less than 2% of the population in 1998 to more than 15% in two decades, analysts say the country’s more open approach to migration has boosted Spain’s economy, which was named the world’s best by the Economist in 2024. Spain’s economy grew by 3.2% last year, compared with Italy’s 0.5%, Britain’s 0.9% and the Netherlands’ 0.8%. Migration, along with factors including investment in green energy and tourism, played a part in this strong performance, experts said.

Don’t miss this: From Eisenhower to Reagan – how battle has shaped American leaders

“There are seven men who served in uniform in world war two and who went on to be president: who are they?” It’s a question the historian Steven M Gillon likes to ask people, and he says most forget Ronald Reagan. In a fascinating interview about his new book, Presidents at War, Gillon talks about how Reagan joined the Army Reserve in the 1930s, remained in Hollywood throughout the war’s duration, but still created “this public image of a guy who has been off to war … there’s a picture of him in his uniform, kissing his wife – who in fact he slept with every night during the war”.

Climate check: Fossil fuel industry accused of seeking exemptions for oilfield emissions

Climate experts have accused the fossil fuel industry of lobbying to be treated differently after it argued emissions from oilfields should not be considered in the same way as those produced by other industries. The industry’s pressure comes as the UK government decides whether to allow a vast new oilfield in the North Atlantic to go ahead.

Last Thing: how gen z are killing capital letters

First millennials were reported to have killed the diamond industry, and now it seems gen Z are coming for capital letters. Yes, another generational division has emerged, along the unlikely faultlines of capitalization. “There’s something about how the letters line up – it just looks better to me,” one young person said. But in a backlash to the backlash, there is also a TikTok trend of turning autocapitalization back on – as a “sign of maturity” as lowercase fans age.

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