Russia’s war against Ukraine
Audience applauds to President Volodymyr Zelensky following his speech at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 15, 2024. (Olena Zashko/The Kyiv Independent)
US requests European countries to draft proposals outlining post-war security assurances for Ukraine, FT reports. The U.S. has asked European countries to outline their potential security and peacekeeping contributions to Ukraine as part of any future peace negotiations with Russia, the Financial Times reported on Feb. 15, citing undisclosed sources.
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.
France to host emergency summit on Ukraine as Trump administration and Russian officials set to begin peace negotiations without Europe. European leaders are set to gather in Paris on Feb. 17 for an emergency summit over concerns that the U.S. is advancing peace talks with Russia without Europe, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski announced on Feb. 15.
State Secretary Rubio holds phone call with Russia’s Lavrov. “Both sides expressed a mutual willingness to engage on key international issues, including the situation in Ukraine,” the readout from the Russian Foreign Ministry read. “Lavrov and Rubio reaffirmed their readiness to work together to restore a mutually respectful interstate dialogue in line with the tone set by the presidents.”
Senior US diplomat visits Belarus, three political prisoners released, NYT reports. U.S. Deputy Assistant State Secretary Christopher W. Smith visited Belarus alongside two other U.S. officials in an unannounced meeting on Feb. 12, the New York Times reported, potentially ending Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s isolation from the West.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
Drones hit apartment building, target oil refinery in Volgograd, Russian media says. Local residents reported hearing over 15 explosions as drones targeted an oil refinery in the Krasnoarmeysky district of the city.
Read our exclusives
‘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.
Photo: Olena Zashko/The Kyiv Independent
Making sense of Trump’s plan – if there is one – to end Russia’s war in
Ukraine
After pledging for months to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump has started to take first steps toward peace negotiations this week.
Photo: Samuel Corum/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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.
Photo: Yurii Stefanyak/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
Human cost of war
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.
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.
International response
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.
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.
‘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.
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.
G7 leaders: Future sanctions hinged on Russia’s ‘good faith efforts’ during peace talks. The Group of Seven (G7) countries agreed to link any future tightening of sanctions against Russia to the progress of upcoming peace negotiations, after a meeting on Feb. 15.
In other news
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.
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.
‘No point trying to negotiate’ with Putin, Yulia Navalnaya says. “Even if you decided to negotiate with Putin, just remember he will lie,” Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, said at the Munich Security Conference two days before the anniversary of her husband’s death.
As little as 1,000 Russian troops left in Transnistria, Zelensky says. Russian-controlled Transnistria has hosted Russian forces for decades following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Russian troops have guarded the region, stalling any attempts for reintegration with Moldova.
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