Politico: Ukraine continues quiet negotiations to receive high-end US weapons.

12:44 AM

'Massive demolition site' — Trump claims Ukraine in ruins while pressing Zelensky to hold elections.

Trump alleged without evidence that Zelensky holds a "4% approval rating" in Ukraine and blamed his leadership, not Putin's, for "allow(ing) the war to go on."

12:09 AM

Trump 'much more confident' in peace deal after 'very good' US-Russia talks.

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Feb. 18 that Russia was prepared to end the "barbarianism" in Ukraine.

11:48 PM

Smaller Western force could guarantee security in Ukraine, Guardian reports.

Such a force could number in the tens of thousands, or even fewer — a number far below President Zelensky's suggestion of 100,000 to 150,000 peacekeepers.

10:39 PM

Saudi Arabia wanted Ukraine represented at US-Russia talks, Bloomberg reports.

U.S. and Russian officials reportedly insisted to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that they wanted to hold the meeting without Ukrainians.

10:32 PM

Book reviews

Plokhy argues in Chornobyl occupation book that Russia’s nuclear blackmail is ‘warning for the future’

10:23 PM

Trump & Russia

US-Russia talks on Ukraine peace — why Putin will be ‘very happy’

10:10 PM

Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 13

9:58 PM

Ukraine war latest: Russia, US conclude Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia, Kremlin advisor calls them 'not bad'

9:49 PM

Ukraine summit in Paris exposes divisions, lack of coherent plan, experts say

9:33 PM

EU plans $6.2 billion military aid package for Ukraine ahead of US-Russia talks, Politico reports.

The package is expected to include 1.5 million artillery shells, air defense systems, and equipment for military brigades. According to Politico, the value of the aid could increase to 10 billion euros ($10.8 billion) depending on individual EU member states' contributions.

9:25 PM

‘Russians didn’t like him’ — Why Trump's envoy Kellogg was sidelined from Russia talks

8:41 PM

France to host second summit on Ukraine, European security, Reuters reports.

Paris has now invited additional European countries and Canada to join the upcoming meeting, either in person or via video link, according to Reuters

8:30 PM

Opinion

Trump is trading Ukraine’s future for a quick win

8:09 PM

EU must take Russia sanctions into 'its own hands,' commissioner says.

The European Union must take greater control of its sanctions policy against Russia as U.S. priorities shift, EU Economy and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said on Feb. 18.

6:59 PM

Turkey 'ideal host' for peace talks on Russia-Ukraine war, Erdogan says.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan highlighted Turkey's previous mediation efforts, including the Black Sea grain deal, which enabled Ukrainian agricultural exports until Russia withdrew in 2023.

6:15 PM

Russia's Lavrov denies 3-point peace plan, warns against Western peacekeepers in Ukraine.

The alleged plan, which reportedly includes a ceasefire, elections in Ukraine, and a final peace agreement, was revealed by Fox News Senior White House Correspondent Jacqui Heinrich on X.

5:42 PM

Video

US-Russia talks is 'the last warning for Europe,' Gabrielius Landsbergis says.

The Kyiv Independent’s Martin Fornusek speaks with former Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, at the 2025 Munich Security Conference as U.S. officials undermine Ukraine’s NATO prospects and territorial integrity ahead of peace negotiations with Russia.

5:23 PM

Zelensky postpones Saudi Arabia visit amid Russia-US talks.

"We were not invited to this Russian-American meeting in Saudi Arabia. It was a surprise for us. I don't want any coincidences, so I'm not going to Saudi Arabia," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

5:00 PM

Explosions reported on Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in Italy.

Two explosions took place on the oil tanker Seajewel, moored in the Italian city of Savona on Feb. 18, with the vessel allegedly transporting Russian oil to Europe, Italian publication IVG reported.

4:59 PM

Peace Negotiations

A ceasefire in Ukraine could end martial law — what would lifting restrictions mean?

3:47 PM

North Korea gaining military experience in Ukraine, improving its missiles' accuracy, Budanov says.

"Only three countries — Ukraine, Russia, and North Korea — are gaining direct experience in full-scale 21st-century warfare," Kyrylo Budanov said.

2:41 PM

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

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.

9:56 PM  (Updated:  February 18, 2025 2:00 pm)

Trump & Ukraine

As US and Russia start talks, what peace terms could Ukraine accept?

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.