Key developments on Feb. 19:
- Trump calls Zelensky 'dictator,' warns of Ukraine's demise with out elections
- Reported drone strike in opposition to Russian oil refinery in Samara Oblast causes hearth
- Ukraine refutes Putin's claims of Russian offensive from Kursk Oblast
- North Korean troops in Russia reportedly advised they're preventing South Korean forces
- EU ambassadors agree on sixteenth bundle of Russia sanctions
- US guarantees Europe to keep up sanctions in opposition to Russia not less than till Ukraine peace deal, Bloomberg stories
- Putin would 'gladly' meet Trump, says conflict in Ukraine must be 'labored out' upfront
- Lithuania's president unveils 6-point plan to help Ukraine, strengthen European safety
U.S. President Donald Trump known as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator" in a submit on his social media platform Fact Social, accusing him of refusing to have elections, and repeating false claims in regards to the conflict in Ukraine.
"He refuses to have elections, could be very low in Ukrainian polls, and the one factor he was good at was taking part in (former U.S. President Joe) Biden 'like a fiddle,'" Trump wrote.
A Feb. 19 ballot by the Kyiv Worldwide Institute of Sociology (KIIS) showed that 57% of Ukrainians belief Zelensky, a five-point improve since December.
Trump additionally known as the Ukrainian president "a dictator with out elections," saying that "Zelensky higher transfer quick, or he received’t have a rustic left."
Kremlin propaganda has pushed the narrative that Zelensky is an illegitimate chief, counting on the premise that his first presidential time period was initially meant to finish on Could 20, 2024.
However Trump's declare ignores the truth that Ukraine's structure prohibits elections throughout martial law, which has been in impact since Russia's full-scale invasion started in 2022. In consequence, Zelensky's time period has been prolonged, which constitutional lawyers argue is permitted below Ukrainian legislation.
Trump additionally referred to Zelensky as a "modestly profitable comic" and accused him of persuading the U.S. to spend $350 billion on Ukraine.
"America has spent $200 billion greater than Europe, and Europe's cash is assured, whereas the U.S. will get nothing again," the U.S. president claimed.
Trump has repeatedly made unsubstantiated and contradicting claims in regards to the worth of help the U.S. has supplied to Ukraine, most not too long ago placing the determine at $350 billion.
Trump earlier stated that he wished the U.S. to be paid again for its help to Kyiv with a deal for Ukraine's natural resources. The U.S. president claimed the deal can be value $500 billion, and that Kyiv had "primarily agreed to it." It was unclear the place the $500 billion determine had come from.
Earlier on Feb. 19, Zelensky stated Ukraine's wartime military prices had totaled $320 billion, with the U.S. and EU mixed offering $200 billion of that sum in protection help.
"We, the individuals of Ukraine, (coated) $120 billion, the U.S. and the EU — $200 billion. We’re speaking about arms; this can be a weapons bundle value $320 billion," Zelensky stated in Kyiv.
Trump's remarks comply with his Feb. 18 statement that Ukraine "ought to maintain new elections," showing accountable Zelensky's management for the continuing conflict.
He additionally claimed, with out proof, that Ukraine ought to maintain elections as a consequence of Zelensky’s supposed "4% approval ranking."
In response, Zelensky addressed the statements, calling them disinformation and saying that they had come from Russia. "We perceive it comes from Russia. We perceive, and we have now proof that these figures have been mentioned between the U.S. and Russia."
His feedback come amid rising considerations in Kyiv after U.S. and Russian officers met in Saudi Arabia — with out Ukraine — to debate methods for ending the conflict.
In reference to the Saudi Arabia talks, Zelensky stated that the U.S. has successfully helped Russian President Vladimir Putin escape years of isolation.
The Kyiv IndependentSlavoj Žižek
Reported drone strike in opposition to Russian oil refinery in Samara Oblast causes hearth
Drones attacked the Syzran Oil Refinery in Russia's Samara Oblast in a single day on Feb. 19, Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev reported on his Telegram channel.
Residents posted videos on social media purportedly displaying a big blaze on the refinery. Sounds of explosions had been reported at round 2:45 a.m. native time.
The strike reportedly brought about a fireplace on the refinery. There have been no casualties, in accordance with Fedorishchev.
The Kyiv Unbiased couldn’t instantly confirm the claims.
The Syzran Oil Refinery, mendacity round 700 kilometers (430 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border, was opened in 1942 and belongs to the Russian state-owned oil firm Rosneft.
The power "has a processing capability of 8.9 million tons of oil per 12 months," stated Andrii Kovalenko, the top of Ukraine's Heart for Countering Disinformation.
"Its merchandise embrace gasoline, aviation kerosene, and bitumen," Kovalenko stated whereas reporting on the assault.
Ukraine considers Russian oil facilities to be legitimate army targets, as fossil gasoline earnings provide Moscow's conflict machine. The Ukrainian army has launched repeated assaults in opposition to Russian refineries with long-range drones.
In lower than two months of 2025, not less than 17 Russian oil amenities had been attacked by drones, in accordance with the impartial Russian Telegram information channel Astra.
On Feb. 17, Ukrainian drones, operated by the Particular Operations Forces and Safety Service of Ukraine (SBU), hit the Ilsky Oil Refinery in Krasnodar Krai and the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station within the Kavkazsky district of Kuban.
The pumping station was taken out of operation as a result of strike.
The Kyiv IndependentTimothy Ash
Ukraine refutes Putin's claims of Russian offensive from Kursk Oblast
Ukraine's Normal Employees refuted claims by President Vladimir Putin that Russian troops had launched an offensive into Ukraine from Kursk Oblast, spokesperson Dmytro Lykhovyi stated on Feb. 19.
Putin advised Russian media on Feb. 18 that Russian forces had crossed into Ukrainian territory from Kursk Oblast, a declare Lykhovyi has dismissed as a part of a disinformation marketing campaign.
"Because the starting of the day, 12 fight engagements have been recorded in Kursk Oblast, three of that are nonetheless ongoing, whereas the remainder have been repelled," Lykhovyi said.
Throughout one of many assaults, Russian troops tried to advance towards Ukraine's state border, in accordance with Lykhovyi.
Ukraine launched a shock cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024, initially capturing about 1,300 sq. kilometers (500 sq. miles) of Russian territory.
Whereas Ukrainian forces have misplaced roughly half of that space, they not too long ago advanced 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) in a brand new offensive.
Over six months of preventing within the area, Russian casualties have reached practically 40,000 personnel, together with over 16,000 killed, Ukraine's Normal Employees reported on Feb. One other 909 have been taken as prisoners of conflict.
Ukraine is probably going wanting to make use of its foothold in Kursk Oblast as leverage in potential peace talks.
Russia's forces in Kursk Oblast have been bolstered by North Korean troops, deployed final fall to assist counter the Ukrainian incursion.
President Volodymyr Zelensky famous that the offensive disrupted Russia's potential to hold out large-scale operations in northeastern and southern Ukraine.
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent
North Korean troops in Russia reportedly advised they're preventing South Korean forces
North Korean safety companies are telling their troops stationed in Russia's Kursk Oblast that they’re preventing in opposition to each the Ukrainian and South Korean militaries, South Korean newspaper Chosun Day by day reported, citing captured North Korean troopers.
Two North Korean prisoners of conflict, captured by Ukrainian forces final month, spoke solely to Chosun Day by day at a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp in Ukraine.
One of many captives admitted that he and his fellow troopers believed they had been preventing South Korean troops, which heightened their morale and aggression.
Every battalion, consisting of about 500 troopers, was monitored by one or two officers from North Korea's State Safety Ministry, one of many prisoners stated. These officers oversaw ideological coaching and self-discipline.
They reportedly knowledgeable their troopers that Ukrainian drone operators had been South Korean army personnel.
Seoul has not supplied army help to Kyiv for the reason that starting of Russia's full-scale invasion.
As much as 12,000 North Korean troops had been deployed to Kursk Oblast final fall to help Russian forces in countering a Ukrainian incursion launched in August 2024.
Their journey to Russia took a number of months, with a gaggle of two,500 North Koreans departing on Oct. 10, 2024, touring by prepare, then by airplane, and at last by bus to Kursk, the place they arrived in mid-December, in accordance with one of many captives.
The opposite captured soldier, a sniper educated for reconnaissance, stated contact between North Korean troops and Russian forces was minimal, with interplay primarily occurring on the command stage for ammunition, provides, and tools.
President Volodymyr Zelensky beforehand reported that North Korean forces preventing for Russia had suffered 4,000 casualties, with two-thirds of the losses being troopers killed.
Ukraine's army intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, attributed the excessive losses to North Korea's lack of fight expertise and its use of human wave assaults with restricted tools.
Ukraine's cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024 initially seized 1,300 sq. kilometers (500 sq. miles) of Russian territory.
Whereas Ukrainian forces have since misplaced roughly half that space as a consequence of Russian counterattacks, they not too long ago advanced 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) in a renewed offensive.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
EU ambassadors agree on sixteenth bundle of Russia sanctions
EU ambassadors agreed on a brand new bundle of sanctions in opposition to Russia, concentrating on aluminum imports and the "shadow fleet" of oil tankers, Euronews reported on Feb. 19.
"I welcome the settlement on our sixteenth bundle of sanctions," European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen stated on X.
"The EU is clamping down even more durable on circumvention by concentrating on extra vessels in Putin’s shadow fleet and imposing new import and export bans."
The EU has already adopted sanctions in opposition to some Russian aluminum merchandise, with the latest measures additionally concentrating on primary aluminum. Russia represents round 6% of the EU's imports of the metallic.
The "shadow fleet" denotes a flotilla of getting older and poorly insured ships Russia makes use of to keep away from sanctions on the oil commerce. The West believes the vessels are used for different illicit actions, together with espionage and sabotage.
The aluminum ban shall be "phased in," whereas the bundle may also goal 13 banks and different entities and people seen as serving to Russia wage its full-scale conflict, the Financial Times reported.
EU Financial system and Commerce Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis commented that Brussels should take better management of its sanctions coverage in opposition to Russia as U.S. priorities shift.
The EU approved its fifteenth sanctions bundle in opposition to Moscow on Dec. 16. The bundle focused 54 people and 30 organizations from Russia, China, and North Korea, in addition to transport corporations facilitating Russia's crude oil gross sales.
The Kyiv IndependentChris York
US guarantees Europe to keep up sanctions in opposition to Russia not less than till Ukraine peace deal, Bloomberg stories
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured European allies that the U.S. would preserve sanctions in opposition to Moscow not less than till an settlement is reached to finish the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 19, citing its undisclosed sources.
Within the practically three years for the reason that full-scale invasion, the U.S. has carried out a number of rounds of sanctions on Russia to undermine its efforts to proceed its conflict in Ukraine. Restrictions have been imposed on banks, the gasoline and oil industries, and the supply of dual-use items, amongst different spheres.
Following talks between the U.S. and Russian delegations in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18, Rubio prompt that lifting sanctions in opposition to Russia can be a part of any peace course of, saying that "concessions" must be made by "all sides" to deliver an finish to "any battle."
Rubio added that the EU would "should be on the desk in some unspecified time in the future as a result of they’ve sanctions as effectively which were imposed."
In keeping with Bloomberg, Rubio subsequently assured European colleagues in a telephone name that the sanctions wouldn’t be lifted not less than till a settlement could possibly be reached.
The State Division's readout on Rubio's name with European allies doesn’t point out any sanctions however says that the nations "agreed to stay in shut contact" as they work to realize "a sturdy finish to the battle in Ukraine."
The function of European nations within the negotiations with Russia stays unclear. Trump's particular envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, beforehand stated that Europe wouldn’t be instantly involved within the talks however assured that its pursuits can be thought of.
The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat
Putin would 'gladly' meet Trump, says conflict in Ukraine must be 'labored out' upfront
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Feb. 19 that he had been briefed on the end result of U.S.-Russian talks in Riyadh, expressing willingness to fulfill with U.S. President Donald Trump.
"Sure, I've been reported. I charge them extremely. There’s a outcome," Putin advised Russian media.
He added that he would "gladly" meet with Trump however burdened that such a gathering have to be fastidiously ready. Putin emphasised that he seeks greater than only a symbolic assembly, saying key points, notably the conflict in Ukraine, have to be "labored out" upfront.
The Russian president additionally confirmed that Trump had advised him Ukraine can be included in any negotiation course of.
"President Trump advised me throughout a phone conversation, I can affirm that, in fact, the US assumes that the negotiation course of will happen with the participation of Russia and Ukraine," he stated.
Putin's remarks come after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio led a delegation to Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18 for direct talks with Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov and different officers.
The assembly marked the primary face-to-face negotiations between the U.S. and Russia since Moscow's full-scale invasion started. In response to the talks, President Volodymyr Zelensky postponed a deliberate go to to Saudi Arabia, expressing considerations over Ukraine's exclusion.
Whereas no concrete choices had been introduced, the U.S.-Russia assembly has raised alarms in Kyiv and Europe, the place officers fear about being sidelined within the negotiation course of.
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova
Lithuania's president unveils 6-point plan to help Ukraine, strengthen European safety
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda outlined a six-point motion plan on Feb. 19 to help Ukraine and bolster European safety because the U.S. sidelines Europe in talks with Russia to finish the conflict, and considerations develop that negotiations might result in a deal unfavorable to Kyiv.
"We should act now to help Ukraine and enhance Europe's safety. No extra discuss retailers — time for motion," Nauseda wrote on X.
His proposal contains safety ensures for Ukraine, emphasizing that "NATO membership ought to stay on the desk." He additionally known as for rapid funding for arms and a 10-billion-euro ($10.4 billion) investment in Ukraine's protection trade.
Nauseda burdened that Russia have to be held accountable for conflict crimes, and sanctions ought to stay in place till its aggression ends, frozen assets are seized, and tariffs on Russian and Belarusian imports are carried out.
Over $300 billion of Russian central financial institution reserves stay frozen in Europe, together with 191 billion euros ($198 billion) held within the Euroclear depository in Belgium.
The Lithuanian president additionally proposed accelerating Ukraine's EU accession, setting 2030 because the goal date. "Ukraine's safety is a part of European safety," he wrote.
Neither Ukraine nor Europe was invited to talks between U.S. and Russian officers in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18. The transfer has set off alarm bells that the U.S. and Russia might attain an settlement on the conflict with out Ukraine or Europe's involvement, and one that will put their future safety in jeopardy.
The way forward for U.S. help for Ukraine below President Donald Trump's administration can also be unsure.
U.S. Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth on Feb. 12 additionally prompt that Ukraine's NATO membership shouldn’t be a "realistic outcome" of ongoing negotiations and that Ukraine might not have the ability to absolutely restore its 2014 borders.
Ukraine has maintained that agency safety ensures — together with NATO membership — are vital to stop Russia from rebuilding its army and doubtlessly launching a brand new invasion if hostilities had been to pause.
President Volodymyr Zelensky beforehand known as NATO membership the "cheapest" safety assure and a geopolitical victory for U.S. President Donald Trump.
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