Washington and its partners are considering additional sanctions if the parties do not observe a ceasefire, with political and technical negotiations between Europe and the U.S. intensifying since last week, Reuters' source said.
The Kyiv Independent’s contributor Ignatius Ivlev-Yorke spent a day with a mobile team from the State Emergency Service in Nikopol in the south of Ukraine as they responded to relentless drone, artillery, and mortar strikes from Russian forces just across the Dnipro River. Nikopol is located across from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the city of Enerhodar.
Peter Szijjarto's announcement came after Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) allegedly dismantled a Hungarian military intelligence network operating in Zakarpattia Oblast.
Moscow and Washington discuss the potential resumption of Russian gas supplies to Europe, among other issues related to the peaceful settlement of Russia's war in Ukraine, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed to the Russian state-run Interfax news agency.
"This is a historic decision, as weapons for Ukraine will be purchased at the expense of the proceeds from frozen Russian assets through the European Peace Fund," Denys Shmyhal said.
The approval marks a key step in international efforts to hold Moscow accountable for what is considered the gravest violation of international law committed against Ukraine.
The U.S. Capitol Dome on Capitol Hill on Oct. 24, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
The U.S. is refusing to co-sponsor a UN resolution marking the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, which reaffirms Ukraine's territorial integrity and condemns Moscow's aggression, Reuters reported on Feb. 20, citing sources familiar with the matter.
"In previous years, the United States has consistently co-sponsored such resolutions in support of a just peace in Ukraine," a source told Reuters.
The upcoming UN vote, considered a key indicator of global support for Ukraine, can proceed without U.S. backing but may struggle to gain widespread support in the General Assembly.
The U.S. also opposed directly calling Russia the "aggressor" in a G7 statement marking the anniversary of the invasion, according to the Financial Times. This is the first time the U.S. has pushed back on such language.
The reports follow recent diplomatic efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to engage with Russia, as well as a number of Trump's false accusations against Ukraine and its President Volodymyr Zelensky.
On Feb. 18, Secretary of State Marco Rubio led a U.S. delegation to Saudi Arabia for direct talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Trump has made several controversial statements about Ukraine in recent days, including calling President Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator" and falsely accusing him of refusing to hold elections.
His claims ignore the fact that Ukraine's constitution prohibits elections during martial law, which has been in effect since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Trump has also suggested that Ukraine should repay the U.S. for its military assistance through a deal involving the country's natural resources, claiming — without evidence — that Kyiv had "essentially agreed" to a deal worth $500 billion.
On Feb. 19, Zelensky said that Ukraine's wartime military expenses had totaled $320 billion, with the U.S. and EU providing a combined $200 billion in defense support.
"We, the people of Ukraine, (covered) $120 billion, the U.S. and the EU — $200 billion. We are talking about arms; this is a weapons package worth $320 billion," Zelensky said in Kyiv.
Trump's recent remarks have raised concerns in Kyiv and among European allies about Washington's shifting stance on the war.
Tim Zadorozhnyy is a news editor at The Kyiv Independent. Based in Warsaw, he is pursuing studies in International Relations, focusing on European Studies. Tim began his career at a local television channel in Odesa. After moving to Warsaw, he joined the Belarusian opposition media outlet NEXTA, starting as a news anchor and later advancing to the position of managing editor.
Philippe Legrain
