Ukraine’s military destroys Russian tanks, ammunition depots in southern Ukraine.

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.

5:58 PM

Ukraine 'progresses meaningfully' in talks on foreign troop presence, Zelensky says.

Zelensky described the development as a concrete step beyond diplomatic discussions, signaling a shift toward tangible international security cooperation.

5:51 PM

Defense tech

Ukraine’s long-awaited weapons tech investment boom is finally kicking off

5:11 PM

Russia close to deal with Syria for post-Assad military presence, Bloomberg reports.

The Kremlin is seeking continued access to the naval base in Tartus and the Khmeimim airbase, which have served as key military footholds in the region.

4:10 PM

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

Russia illegally annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014, as well as the Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts in 2022.

4:07 PM

Film 'Rock, Scissors, Paper' about war in Ukraine wins BAFTA award.

The film "Rock, Paper, Scissors" won the Best British Short Film nomination at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) on Feb. 16.

3:13 PM

Zelensky to visit Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18, Reuters reports.

The Ukrainian president's visit coincides with the U.S.-Russia talks on ending the war in Ukraine, which will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

2:55 PM

Zelensky hopes Kellogg will visit front lines during trip to Ukraine.

In comments reported by Interfax-Ukraine, Zelensky said Kellogg will arrive in Kyiv on Feb. 20 and could stay for "two days and maybe more."

2:19 PM

KI Insights

Ukraine calendar: Events to look out for this week

1:30 PM

Ukraine strikes Ilsky Oil Refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, SBU source says.

Residents earlier posted videos on social media purportedly showing explosions at the refinery in the Seversky district of Krasnodar Krai.

1:23 PM

Russia's Lavrov to meet US delegation in Saudi Arabia for Ukraine peace talks, Kremlin says.

The U.S. delegation will be led by State Secretary Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

12:56 PM

Macron hosts summit of European powers to discuss plan for Ukraine's 'automatic NATO membership'.

The summit will be held on the same day a U.S. delegation arrives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for talks with Russian officials on ending the war in Ukraine.

12:44 PM

'23 invaders destroyed' — Ukraine's special forces release video of operation behind Russian lines.

Ukrainian troops reportedly held their positions for two days amid "intense fighting," during which 23 Russian soldiers were killed.

10:00 PM  (Updated:  February 17, 2025 11:46 am)

War analysis

A ‘very bloody war:' What is the death toll of Russia’s war in Ukraine?

10:14 AM

Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 3, injure 8 over past day.

Russian forces launched 147 drones from the Russian cities of Orel, Bryansk, Kursk, Shatalovo, Millerovo, and Primosk-Akhtarsk at Ukraine overnight, according to Ukraine's Air Force.

9:41 AM

Over 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed since start of Russia's full-scale war, Zelensky says.

Nearly 380,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been injured since the start of the all-out war, President Volodymyr Zelensky told NBC.

8:14 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 859,920 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,530 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:09 AM

Ukraine will 'never accept' outcome of peace negotiations without Ukraine's participation, Zelensky says.

Ukraine will "never accept any decisions between the United States and Russia" regarding the outcome of peace negotiation without Ukraine's participation, President Volodymyr Zelensky told NBC News in an interview published Feb. 16.

6:12 AM

Fire reported at oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai following 'massive' drone attack.

A large fire reportedly erupted at the Ilsky oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai overnight on Feb. 17, following large-scale Ukrainian drone attacks on the region, Russian Telegram media channels reported.

5:32 AM

Putin 'wants to stop fighting,' Trump says, dismisses Russia's territorial ambitions.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Feb. 16 that he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin "wants to stop fighting" Russia's war in Ukraine, dismissing Moscow's territorial ambitions in the embattled country.

4:27 AM

US, Russian officials to meet on Feb. 18 in Saudi Arabia, Axios reports.

The delegation, led by State Secretary Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, is set to begin negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

2:35 AM

Trump confirms Zelensky will take part in Ukraine peace talks as US, Russia prepare Saudi meeting.

U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed that Zelensky would have a say in the process and mentioned the possibility of allowing European nations to purchase U.S.-made weapons for Ukraine.

1:38 AM

Starmer open to deploying British troops for Ukraine peacekeeping effort.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote on Feb. 16. that he did not take lightly the idea of placing British servicemen and women in harm’s way. "But any role in helping to guarantee Ukraine’s security is helping to guarantee the security of our continent, and the security of this country," he added.

1:23 AM

Ukraine’s place in EU, NATO non-negotiable, Finnish president says.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Finnish President Alexander Stubb has emphasized that Ukraine’s membership in the European Union and NATO is non-negotiable, adding that these alliances are essential for ensuring the country’s sovereignty and security.