After holding a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 12, U.S. President Donald Trump once again claimed the "horrible, very bloody war" in Ukraine had cost "millions" of lives. It’s not the first time Trump has claimed that such numbers of people have been killed
"I think realism is an important part of the conversation that hasn't existed enough inside conversations amongst friends, but simply pointing out realism like the borders won't be rolled back to what everybody would like them to be in 2014 is not a concession to Vladimir Putin," U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said.
Agricultural trade between Ukraine and the EU reached $17 billion in 2024, exceeding the previous record of $16.5 billion in 2022 by 3%, the Kyiv-based research Institute of Agrarian Economics (IAE) reported.
Europe's main stock market and currencies are gaining amid growing optimism about a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, Reuters reported on Feb. 13.
After promising to quickly resolve the war in Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump and his top officials’ actions on Feb. 12 appeared to undermine Ukraine’s leverage in peace talks, renewing fears that his plans for a quick resolution could amount to a victory for Russia. Trump announced he
"Every day this oil pumping station's idle time costs Russia tens of millions of dollars," a source in the Security Service of Ukraine told the Kyiv Independent.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Kyiv "will definitely take part in the negotiations in one way or another," but there will also be a "bilateral Russian-American track."
"I don't perceive this call as it was a priority that he (Trump) talked to Russia first. Although it's not very pleasant," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The remarks come amid ongoing uncertainty over U.S. aid commitments to Ukraine.
"Great talks with Russia and Ukraine yesterday. Good possibility of ending that horrible, very bloody war," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"We agreed that we are not automatically filling the void with European money because, first, we don't have those funds," Kallas said.
On Feb. 10, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that he aimed to secure “$500 billion worth of rare earth” minerals as part of negotiations over continued U.S. support for Ukraine amid its war with Russia. When history repeats itself, it’s time to reflect. At the beginning
Russian attacks on multiple Ukrainian regions killed at least one civilian and injured 20 over the past day, regional authorities reported on Feb. 10.
European nations fear they will be left to shoulder the costs of post-war security and reconstruction in Ukraine as they remain excluded from U.S.-Russia talks on ending the war, the Financial Times reported on Feb. 13, citing senior European officials.
The sanctions freeze all assets held by the targeted individuals in Ukraine and block them from conducting financial transactions, among other restrictions.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that "work will be started quickly."
The drones allegedly targeted the Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) which produces about 20% of the country's steel output, according to pro-Kremlin media outlet Shot.
"Russian drones and bombs are falling and exploding in our villages. And we must recognize that we cannot defend ourselves against them," Moldovan President Maia Sandu said.
The White House declined to confirm whether it had received China's proposal but reportedly dismissed it as "not viable at all."
While in Ukraine, Keith Kellogg is expected to meet with officials and civilians affected by nearly three years of war, the announcement said.
This number includes 1,250 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Russia attacked 13 communities in Sumy Oblast on Feb. 12, injuring five people, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported.
Oil prices dropped more than 2% on Feb. 12 after U.S. President Donald Trump took a significant step toward ending the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which has contributed to higher oil prices due to concerns over global supply disruptions.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. said on Feb. 12 that "to prevent Putin from dining in Kyiv, we need to mobilize the bipartisan Congressional coalition standing with Ukraine."
In 2024, Russia’s total defense expenditures surged by 42% in real terms, reaching 13.1 trillion rubles. When adjusted for purchasing power parity—which accounts for differences in what money can buy in different countries—this amounts to $462 billion.
"We'll meet in Saudi Arabia," U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House following his conversation with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.
Key developments on. Feb. 12: * Trump holds talks with Zelensky following his 1.5-hour-long conversation with Putin * 'Restoring Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is unrealistic objective,' Pentagon chief says * Coordinating allied support — Umerov lists Ukraine's priorities at Ramstein-format summit * Europe faces 'total' Russian occupation without Ukraine's army, Zelensky says * Ukraine's SBU
"Everyone who destroyed the national security of Ukraine and helped Russia must be held accountable (for their actions)," President Volodymyr Zelensky said, without specifying who exactly would be penalized and what that would mean.
Ukraine faces a delicate balancing act — mobilizing enough people to fend off the immediate threat posed by Russia's full-scale invasion, and preserving enough of the country's youth to weather longer-term demographic concerns. On top of this, U.S. lawmakers and NATO allies are reportedly urging Ukraine to lower its draft
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Feb. 12 at the Ramstein summit that it is unrealistic to expect that Ukraine can restore its 2014 borders in any negotiations with Moscow on ending its war.
"The conversation went very well. He, like President (Vladimir) Putin, wants to make peace. We discussed a variety of topics having to do with the war, but mostly, the meeting that is being set up on Friday in Munich, where Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the delegation," U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence on Feb. 10. The former lawmaker has previously blamed NATO for Russia's war against Ukraine, and faced scrutiny for her controversial foreign policy views.
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