Sunday, February 23
Russia’s war against Ukraine
Firefighters extinguish a blaze at a home in Kyiv after Russia attacked the capital city with drones overnight on Feb. 22, 2025. (Ukraine’s State Emergency Service / Telegram)
US mineral deal offers no security guarantees for Ukraine, NYT reports. The terms of the revised proposal are virtually the same as those of an earlier version rejected by President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to a draft dated Feb. 21.
‘We’re going to get our money back’ — Trump on US-Ukraine resources deal. “I want them to give us something for all of the money that we put up,” Trump said on Feb. 22. “We’re asking for rare earth and oil — anything we can get.”
Musk denies US threat to cut Starlink over Ukraine minerals deal. Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has denied reports that the United States threatened to shut off Starlink in Ukraine unless Kyiv agreed to a minerals deal. Responding to a report by Reuters, Musk called the claim “false” and accused the news agency of lying.
Trump team could strike a deal to end war ‘this week,’ White House says. “The president, his team are very much focused on continuing negotiations with both sides of this war to end the conflict, and the president is very confident we can get it done this week,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Feb. 22.
Trump announces next round of Ukraine peace talks in Riyadh on Feb 25. U.S. President Donald Trump said a new phase of ceasefire negotiations between American and Russian delegations aimed to stop Russia’s war against Ukraine would take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 25.
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Zelensky, Scholz discuss ‘ways to achieve just peace’ in Ukraine. The phone call comes amid growing concerns in Kyiv and among European allies about Washington’s shifting stance on the war.
Investigation names over 95,000 Russians killed in Ukraine. Military analysts consulted by researchers estimated that the list likely represents only 45% to 65% of Russia’s total casualties.
Ukraine expects further F-16 deliveries from the Netherlands, Zelensky says. Following his meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof at the Munich Security Conference, President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that bolstering Ukraine’s air defenses remains a top priority.
Ukraine’s SBU claims attack on Russian oil pumping station in Krasnodar Krai. Russian authorities are currently assessing the damage, the source said.
Russia exceeded mobilization goals in occupied Ukrainian territories last year, official says. “In 2024, Russia had to mobilize thousands of people from the newly occupied territories and those who had previously been under occupation. According to HUR, this plan has been fulfilled by 104%.”
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‘Europe did more than the US’ — EU defense commissioner pushes back against Trump accusations
To whip the European defense industry into shape, Brussels has appointed veteran Lithuanian politician Andrius Kubilius as its first-ever defense commissioner. The Kyiv Independent sat down with Commissioner Kubilius to ask whether the EU is ready to step up in light of recent policy shifts in the U.S.
Photo: Olena Zashko/The Kyiv Independent
As Trump and Moscow align their vision, battle to stabilize Donetsk front rests on a knife edge
Day by day, the offensive also brings with it a grim new reality: that Russia’s war could soon enter a new Ukrainian region. According to open-source mapping, Russian forces are now less than five kilometers from the border of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, which has not so far seen fighting on the ground.
Photo: Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent
Human cost of war
Russian attacks on Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast, kill at least 2. The number of casualties may rise as people could still be trapped under the rubble, Donetsk Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.
Russian missile attack in Kryvyi Rih kills 1, injures 5. Three of the injured victims have been hospitalized, with one woman reportedly in critical condition. She is being treated in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
General Staff: Russia has lost 866,000 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022. This number includes 1,140 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
International response
EU considers confiscating part of Russia’s frozen $280 billion, Bloomberg reports. The European Union is discussing how to seize Russia’s frozen central bank assets to provide financial and military aid to Ukraine, as concerns grow that the United States may scale back its support.
‘The US wants lasting peace’ — Polish FM meets State Secretary Rubio. Sikorski said their meeting was “substantial and cordial” and it “confirmed the durability of the Polish-American alliance,” Polish RMF FM reported.
Fico says Zelensky ‘needs this war,’ justifies Russia’s full-scale invasion. In a 15-minute-long speech, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico also backed U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent criticism of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In other news
NATO to reportedly extend jet fuel pipeline to Czechia, Poland in case of war with Russia. The current pipeline system of the alliance, dating back to the Cold War, ends in western Germany, Reuters reported.
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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Chris York, Daria Shulzhenko, Olena Goncharova, and Abbey Fenbert.
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