Wednesday, February 19
Russia’s war against Ukraine
U.S. and Russian officials attend a meeting at Riyadh’s Diriyah Palace in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18, 2025. The meeting marked the first direct negotiations between Moscow and Washington since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine was not invited to the talks. (Evelyn Hockstein / Pool / AFP)
Russia, US conclude Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia, Kremlin advisor says they were ‘not bad.’ Yuri Ushakov, an advisor to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, said it was a “very serious discussion of all the issues we wanted to touch upon.”
Zelensky postpones Saudi Arabia visit amid Russia-US talks. “We were not invited to this Russian-American meeting in Saudi Arabia. It was a surprise for us. I don’t want any coincidences, so I’m not going to Saudi Arabia,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Putin ready for talks with Zelensky, Kremlin says, repeats false ‘legitimacy’ claims. Russia has widely used the claim that Volodymyr Zelensky is illegitimate in its propaganda to discredit the Ukrainian government.
Russia’s Lavrov denies 3-point peace plan, warns against Western peacekeepers in Ukraine. The alleged plan, which reportedly includes a ceasefire, elections in Ukraine, and a final peace agreement, was revealed by Fox News Senior White House Correspondent Jacqui Heinrich on X.
Trump ‘much more confident’ in peace deal after ‘very good’ US-Russia talks. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Feb. 18 that Russia was prepared to end the “barbarianism” in Ukraine.
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Western intelligence shows Putin not ready for ‘real peace,’ NBC News reports. Russian President Vladimir Putin still wants to occupy all of Ukraine and thinks he can outlast Ukraine and Europe in its armed aggression, unnamed intelligence officials said.
EU plans $6.2 billion military aid package for Ukraine ahead of US-Russia talks, Politico reports. The package is expected to include 1.5 million artillery shells, air defense systems, and equipment for military brigades. According to Politico, the value of the aid could increase to 10 billion euros ($10.8 billion) depending on individual EU member states’ contributions.
Smaller Western force could guarantee security in Ukraine, UK defense sources tell Guardian. Such a force could number in the tens of thousands, or even fewer — a number far below President Zelensky’s suggestion of 100,000 to 150,000 peacekeepers.
North Korea gaining military experience in Ukraine, improving its missiles’ accuracy, Budanov says. “Only three countries — Ukraine, Russia, and North Korea — are gaining direct experience in full-scale 21st-century warfare,” Kyrylo Budanov said.
New video shows Australian POW Oscar Jenkins alive but injured in Russian captivity. In the video, Oscar Jenkins says he feels “weak” and has “lost a lot of weight,” and has a broken arm.
Read our exclusives
Why Putin will be ‘very happy’ with the US-Russia talks on Ukraine peace
The talks in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18 ended with little in the way of concrete agreements, but the very fact it happened — without Ukraine — is a huge win for Moscow.
Photo: Evelyn Hockstein / AFP via Getty Images
Why Trump’s envoy Kellogg was sidelined from Russia talks
Steve Witkoff is emerging as a key negotiator with Russia despite his role as Trump’s Middle East envoy. Some experts attribute this to Kellogg’s more pro-Ukrainian stance.
Photo: Johannes Simon / Getty Images
Ukraine summit in Paris exposes divisions, lack of coherent plan, experts say
The emergency Ukraine summit held in Paris by European leaders on Feb. 17 exposed divisions between European countries, highlighting how they have so far failed to agree on a coherent plan for supporting Kyiv, analysts have told the Kyiv Independent.
Photo: Christophe Petit Tesson / AFP via Getty Images
A ceasefire in Ukraine could end martial law — what would lifting restrictions mean?
For nearly three years, all of Ukraine has been living under martial law. The introduction of martial law temporarily suspended some civilian rights and freedoms and gave the government additional emergency powers in order to fight off Russia’s invasion.
Photo: Michael Sorrow / Anadolu via Getty Images
Human cost of war
Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 2, injure 26 over past day. Russian forces launched 176 drones from the Russian cities of Orel, Bryansk, Kursk, Shatalovo, Millerovo, Primosk-Akhtarsk, and Russian-occupied Crimea at Ukraine overnight, according to Ukraine’s Air Force.
General Staff: Russia has lost 861,090 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. This number includes 1,170 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
US-Russia talks ‘last warning for Europe,’ Gabrielius Landsbergis says
International response
‘Europe is ready and willing to step up’ — Rutte on security guarantees for Ukraine. Europe is ready and willing to take a leadership role in providing Ukraine with security guarantees, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte wrote on Feb. 17 on X.
France to host second summit on Ukraine, European security, Reuters reports. Paris has now invited additional European countries and Canada to join the upcoming meeting, either in person or via video link.
‘Now is a critical moment’ — EU chief von der Leyen meets Kellogg to discuss Ukraine. Ursula von der Leyen discussed the situation in Ukraine with Keith Kellogg on the day when talks on ending the war between Russia and the U.S. began in Riyadh.
Europe at ‘kids’ table’ in talks on Ukraine, Rheinmetall chief says. “If you don’t invest, if you’re not strong, they handle you like kids,” Armin Papperger said.
EU must take Russia sanctions into ‘its own hands,’ commissioner says. The European Union must take greater control of its sanctions policy against Russia as U.S. priorities shift, EU Economy and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said on Feb. 18.
Canada wants to participate in talks on Ukraine’s security guarantees, official says. “We want to be part of conversations linked to more Canadians being involved in protecting Ukraine,” Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Feb. 18.
Saudi Arabia wanted Ukraine represented at US-Russia talks, Bloomberg reports. U.S. and Russian officials reportedly insisted to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that they wanted to hold the meeting without Ukrainians.
Turkey ‘ideal host’ for peace talks on Russia-Ukraine war, Erdogan says. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan highlighted Turkey’s previous mediation efforts, including the Black Sea grain deal, which enabled Ukrainian agricultural exports until Russia withdrew in 2023.
‘Massive demolition site’ — Trump claims Ukraine in ruins while pressing Zelensky to hold elections. Trump alleged without evidence that Zelensky holds a “4% approval rating” in Ukraine and blamed his leadership, not Putin’s, for “allow(ing) the war to go on.”
Opinions and insights
Trump is trading Ukraine’s future for a quick win
“Having given away much of the West’s leverage, including NATO membership prospects and security guarantees for Ukraine, it’s hard to imagine what Trump could deliver to ensure Ukraine’s security. What, then, does Trump expect in return?” Chatham House Fellow Timothy Ash writes.
Photo: Tobias Schwarz / AFP via Getty Images
Alternatives to Trump’s Russia appeasement
“With both parties in the war near exhaustion, it is not foolish to explore the options for achieving a lasting peace in the absence of complete capitulation by one side. But the path Trump has chosen leads directly into an impossible thicket,” writes Harold James, a Princeton University professor.
Photo: Andrew Harnik / Getty Images
In other news
Explosions reported on Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in Italy. Two explosions took place on the oil tanker Seajewel, moored in the Italian city of Savona on Feb. 18, with the vessel allegedly transporting Russian oil to Europe, Italian publication IVG reported.
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