Ukraine preparing for Zelensky to visit Saudi Arabia
Delegations from Saudi Arabia and Ukraine met on Feb. 16 to discuss increased economic ties, ahead of a planned visit by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine
Ukraine war latest: US wants 50% of Ukraine's minerals, may deploy troops to guard them; Zelensky says nearly 250,000 Russian soldiers killed in war
Key developments on Feb. 15-16: * US wants to get 50% of Ukrainian minerals, may deploy its troops to guard them, NBC reports * Almost 250,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine war, Zelensky says * Russia must withdraw to at least pre-2022 front line, Zelensky says * Europe quietly developing plan to send
Ukraine, Europe must be involved in peace talks, Rubio says
"Ukraine will have to be involved, because they're the one that were invaded, and the Europeans will have to be involved because they have sanctions on Putin and Russia as well," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
Arrests of top commanders in Ukraine underscore political power games, army commanders and experts say
Last month, four top-level military commanders in Ukraine were arrested for alleged mismanagement of battlefield operations — in the first criminal investigations of top military leadership since the start of the full-scale invasion. Three high-ranking officers involved in what’s being called “the generals’ case” — Yurii Halushkin, Artur Horbenko, and Illia
'Putin will wage war against NATO,' Zelensky tells NBC News
Russia is training 150,000 troops in Belarus for a large-scale operation that could happen as early as this summer, Zelensky said. "There are risks that this can be Poland and Lithuania."
Russian drone strikes hit power plant in Mykolaiv Oblast, leaving over 100,000 Ukrainians without heat
"This was done deliberately to leave people without heat in below-zero temperatures and create a humanitarian catastrophe," wrote Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
Europe needs 'special envoy' to take part in Ukraine peace talks, says Finnish President
"If there is a negotiating table, I think we need to do something similar to what was done in Kosovo. Europe needs to have a special envoy," Finnish President Alexander Stubb said on Feb. 16 at the Munich Security Conference.
Zelensky's proposed European army 'will not happen,' says Polish foreign minister
There will be no joint European Union army to counter Russian aggression and compensate any withdrawal in U.S. support, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said to local television late on Feb. 15, Reuters reported.
General Staff: Russia has lost 858,390 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,730 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Success already 'feels possible' after start of collaboration with US officials, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Feb. 15 that success “already feels possible” as his administration begins working on negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump’s team to end the war.
Trump's call to Putin was a mistake, Polish FM says
U.S. President Donald Trump's phone call to Russian President Vladimir Putin was a mistake, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 15.
Official denies Ukraine will participate in Russia-US meeting in Saudi Arabia
Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky, denied on Feb. 15 that Ukraine will participate in an upcoming meeting between Russia and the United States in Saudi Arabia.
Trump team heading to Saudi Arabia for talks with Russia, Politico reports
Senior U.S. officials are heading to Saudi Arabia for peace talks with Russian and Ukrainian representatives, Politico reported on Feb. 15, citing a Republican lawmaker and two U.S. officials familiar with the meeting.
'You can't kill your way out of this war' — Kellogg calls for sanctions against Russia's shadow fleet, concessions from Ukraine to end war
U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, attended a panel discussion during the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 15 where he called for the the U.S. to implement additional sanctions on Russia's "shadow fleet," while also calling for concessions from both countries to secure a peace deal.
What's at stake for Poroshenko, ex-president sanctioned by Zelensky?
In an unprecedented move, President Volodymyr Zelensky imposed sanctions on his predecessor and key political rival, lawmaker Petro Poroshenko. Poroshenko, who was elected president in 2014, lost his reelection bid in 2019 to Zelensky in a bitter campaign that often included personal attacks. The rivalry between the two did not
Making sense of Trump’s plan – if there is one – to end Russia’s war in Ukraine
After pledging for months to swiftly end Russia’s war in Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump has started to take first steps toward peace negotiations this week. After holding a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 12, Trump declared that Ukraine peace talks were to start
Ukraine 'not ready' to sign mineral resource agreement with US, Zelensky says
Ukraine is not yet ready to sign a mineral resource agreement with the United States, President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a news conference at the Munich Security Conference, stating that the agreement "was not ready to protect" Ukraine and its interests.
Europe won't participate in peace negotiations, but its interests to be considered, Kellogg says
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Kellogg mentioned the Minsk II deal of 2015, saying that it involved "a lot of people" but didn't work out.
Russia must withdraw to at least pre-2022 front line, Zelensky says
Zelensky told Newsmax that U.S. President Donald Trump could end Russia's war if Europe supports his plan.
Europe quietly developing plan to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, AP reports
Estonia's Defense Minister Hanno Pevklur said that European allies are "in a very early stage" of developing the plan to deploy peacekeeping troops to Ukraine.
Ukraine, Germany agree to open 'Unity Hub' for Ukrainian refugees in Berlin
"The signing of the Joint Declaration of Intent to open the Ukrainian 'Unity Hub' in Berlin is an important step to support our citizens abroad. This is a professional space that brings together community, business, and cultural initiatives," National Unity Minister Oleksii Chernyshov said.
Almost 250,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine war, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Moscow lost nearly 20,000 soldiers in the battles for Russia's Kursk Oblast alone.
'Putin is weak. We must use that' — Zelensky's Munich speech in 5 key quotes
President Volodymyr Zelensky's speech on the second day of the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 15 was met with several rounds of applause. The Ukrainian president called for the creation of an "army of Europe" and emphasized the changes in relations between Europe and the U.S. during Donald Trump's
US wants to get 50% of Ukrainian minerals, may deploy its troops to guard them, NBC reports
President Volodymyr Zelensky hasn't yet signed the document, calling it "a memorandum," not a security agreement.
Zelensky calls for creation of 'army of Europe' amid US support uncertainty
"Let's be clear: We cannot rule out the possibility that America may refuse to cooperate with Europe on issues that threaten it," Volodymyr Zelensky said at the Munich Security Conference.
Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 3, injure 12 over past day
Russian forces launched 70 drones from the Russian cities of Orel, Millerovo, and Primosk-Akhtarsk, as well as from Cape Chauda in occupied Crimea, at Ukraine overnight, according to Ukraine's Air Force.
General Staff: Russia has lost 856,660 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,180 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Zelensky, Macron discuss Europe's role in Ukraine's security guarantees
The two leaders discussed how European partners can coordinate with the U.S. and Ukraine to bring about a just peace, particularly focusing on "security guarantees and proposals of France."
'It doesn't advance American interests' — JD Vance walks back WSJ comments on US troops in Ukraine
Even though Vance refused to say that deploying U.S. troops in Ukraine was off the table, he later accused the outlet of "twisting (his) words."
Ukraine's survival hinges on US military support, Zelensky tells NBC News
Volodymyr Zelensky said on Feb. 14 that it would be "very, very, very difficult" for Ukraine to sustain its fight against Russia and remain secure in the long term without American support.
Ukraine secures return of 8 children from Russian-occupied territories
"All the children were separated from their families due to the war and occupation, and some lost their parents," Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament’s Commissioner for Human Rights, said on Feb. 14.
JD Vance's Munich speech met with shock, bewilderment, and 'almost no applause'
U.S. Vice President JD Vance stunned those watching on Feb. 14 when his speech at the Munich Security Conference turned into a searing attack on Europe's ideals and a call to embrace far-right political parties. At an event focused almost entirely on how to end Russia's full-scale invasion of
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