Russia’s war against Ukraine
A woman holds a banner ‘Turning away from those who defended freedom is betrayal’ during a rally in support of Ukrainian POWs on Feb. 16, 2025 in Kyiv. Ukrainians continue to participate in the ‘Free Azov’ rallies in support of the captured defenders of Mariupol, which regularly take place in different Ukrainian cities. (hurricanehank / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
Zelensky arrives in UAE, hints at humanitarian, economic cooperation. Zelensky’s arrival in the UAE kicks off a regional tour that includes official visits to Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
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.
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.
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‘A colonial agreement’ — former Ukrainian official slams US minerals deal, AP reports. The U.S. delegates in Munich did not offer any security guarantees in exchange for Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, current and former senior Ukrainian officials said.
Trump wants ceasefire in Ukraine by Easter, Bloomberg reports. The U.S administration has told European officials that it hopes to achieve a ceasefire agreement by Easter, which falls on April 20, sources told Bloomberg.
‘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.”
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Ukraine war latest: US wants 50% of Ukraine’s minerals, may deploy troops to guard them
The U.S. is reportedly seeking control over 50% of Ukraine’s rare minerals and has expressed openness to deploying troops to protect them if a peace deal with Russia is reached, NBC reported on Feb. 15.
Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
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.
Photo: State Bureau of Investigation
Human cost of war
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.
International response
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Russian drone hits Chornobyl nuclear plant as Munich Security Conference begins | Ukraine This Week
In other news
One year following Navalny’s death, West, Navalnaya condemn Putin’s Russia. “Russia is increasingly waging an illegal war of aggression against Ukraine while continuing its domestic repression, persecuting those who advocate for democracy,” EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said.
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