Covid-19 in Ukraine: 17,448 new cases, 152 new deaths, and 29,528 new vaccinations.

2:41 PM

'We agreed to consider each other's interests' — Russia and US conclude Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia.

Yuri Ushakov, an advisor to Russia's President Vladimir Putin, said it was a "very serious discussion of all the issues we wanted to touch upon."

2:25 PM

Putin ready for talks with Zelensky, Kremlin says, repeats false 'legitimacy' claims.

Russia has widely used the claim that Volodymyr Zelensky is illegitimate in its propaganda to discredit the Ukrainian government.

12:23 PM  (Updated:  February 18, 2025 1:49 pm)

'Now is a critical moment' — EU chief von der Leyen meets Kellogg to discuss Ukraine.

Ursula von der Leyen discussed the situation in Ukraine with Keith Kellogg on the day when talks on ending the war between Russia and the U.S. began in Riyadh.

1:18 PM

Europe at 'kids' table' in talks on Ukraine, Rheinmetall chief says.

"If you don't invest, if you're not strong, they handle you like kids," Armin Papperger said.

12:58 PM

New video shows Australian POW Oscar Jenkins alive but injured in Russian captivity.

In the video, Oscar Jenkins says he feels "weak" and has "lost a lot of weight," and has a broken arm.

11:55 AM

Opinion

Alternatives to Trump's Russia appeasement

11:24 AM

Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 2, injure 26 over past day.

Russian forces launched 176 drones from the Russian cities of Orel, Bryansk, Kursk, Shatalovo, Millerovo, Primosk-Akhtarsk, and Russian-occupied Crimea at Ukraine overnight, according to Ukraine's Air Force.

10:25 AM

'Europe is ready and willing to step up' — Rutte on security guarantees for Ukraine.

Europe is ready and willing to take a leadership role in providing Ukraine with security guarantees, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte wrote on Feb. 17 on X.

9:51 AM

US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia conclude, Kremlin advisor says they were 'not bad'.

Though the U.S. and Russia are meeting without Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky will also head to Saudi Arabia this week.

8:40 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 861,090 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,170 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:24 AM

Ukrainian draft officer injured during violent attack in Lviv Oblast.

A Ukrainian draft officer was injured in a violently attack on Feb. 17 in the city of Zhovkva in Lviv Oblast while escorting two mobilized individuals to a medical evaluation.

6:51 AM

Media investigation identifies over 93,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine.

The BBC and the independent outlet Mediazona have identified the names of 93,641 Russian soldiers who have been killed during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

5:58 AM

Ukraine wins 30 medals at Invictus Games.

Team Ukraine secured a total of 30 medals during the 2025 Invictus Games, including 12 gold, 12 silver, and six bronze medal finishes.

5:04 AM

Over 10,000 applications to join military submitted by young recruits following introduction of 'special contracts,' Defense Ministry says.

Ukraine's military has received over 10,000 applications from volunteer recruits aged 18 to 24 following the introduction of lucrative "special contracts," Defense Ministry Spokesperson Dmytro Lazutkin said on Ukrainian TV on Feb. 17.

4:16 AM

'US is saying things that are very pleasant for Putin' — Zelensky warns against peace deal without Ukraine's participation ahead of US-Russia meeting.

President Volodymyr Zelensky warned against a hastily negotiated peace deal from the Trump administration during a wide-ranging interview with German media network ARD on Feb. 17, reaffirming that Ukraine would not accept a peace deal negotiated without the country's involvement.

2:17 AM

Macron pushes for strong security guarantees for Ukraine after talks with Trump, Zelensky.

"We seek a strong and lasting peace in Ukraine," French President Emmanuel Macron said. "To achieve this, Russia must end its aggression, and this must be accompanied by strong and credible security guarantees for the Ukrainians."

12:54 AM

Starmer urges US support for European peacekeeping force in Ukraine.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to provide American military backing for a proposed European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, arguing that only a U.S. security guarantee can deter Russia from launching further aggression.

11:25 PM

US envoy Kellogg to visit Ukraine on Feb 19.

Speaking to journalists in Brussels on Feb. 17, U.S. special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg confirmed his travel plans, saying he would first head to Warsaw on the following day before taking a night train to Kyiv.

10:32 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Russia's Lavrov rules out territorial concessions as part of Ukraine peace talks.

9:35 PM

'Hot phase' of war in Ukraine may 'end soon' with new US leadership, Russian UN envoy says.

Russia's UN Representative Vasily Nebenzya claimed that a ceasefire and freezing hostilities alone would not resolve the conflict, outlining Moscow's conditions for a settlement.

8:30 PM

Ukraine calls for Europe to appoint high-level negotiator for US, Russia peace talks.

Presidential Office Deputy Head Ihor Zhovkva stressed the urgency of appointing a European representative, saying, "It should be a quickly made decision. I hope right after the Paris meeting. We should act, not reflect."

8:24 PM

Trump & Russia

Kurt Volker's guide to US-Russia Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia.

7:53 PM

Up to 30,000 European troops reportedly could be deployed to monitor Ukraine ceasefire, Washington Post reports.

According to the publication, the estimated troop numbers emerged in response to a U.S. questionnaire sent to European countries asking them to assess their capabilities to support Kyiv.

6:46 PM

Poroshenko claims Zelensky’s office requested parliament votes in exchange for avoiding sanctions.

Poroshenko's faction opposed a recent bill to purchase two Russian-made reactors from Bulgaria for the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant, a move Zelensky called critical for Ukraine's energy independence.

6:24 PM

Video

Expert guide to US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia.