Russian drones attacked Odesa, inflicting a fireplace within the metropolis. Native Telegram channels report explosions in varied districts and potential energy outages.
France plans to host one other high-level assembly on Feb. 19 to debate Ukraine and European safety, increasing participation to international locations disregarded of the preliminary summit, Reuters reported on Feb. 18, citing diplomatic sources.
French President Emmanuel Macron convened the primary Paris summit on Feb. 17, bringing collectively leaders from Europe's largest nations and Britain, in addition to NATO Secretary Basic Mark Rutte and high EU officers.
The talks targeted on Ukraine's safety, its potential NATO membership, and Europe's broader protection technique.
In keeping with Reuters, Paris has now invited extra European international locations and Canada to affix the upcoming assembly, both in individual or through video hyperlink.
The expanded visitor listing contains Norway, Canada, the Baltic states, the Czech Republic, Greece, Finland, Romania, Sweden, and Belgium.
The transfer follows latest U.S.-Russia negotiations in Saudi Arabia, marking the primary direct talks between Washington and Moscow for the reason that begin of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian delegation, led by Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov, met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and different officers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky postponed his deliberate go to to Saudi Arabia, reiterating that no selections about Ukraine's future needs to be made with out Kyiv's involvement.
The position of European nations within the negotiations with Russia stays unclear. Trump's particular envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, beforehand mentioned that Europe wouldn’t be straight concerned within the talks however assured that its pursuits could be thought-about.
The pinnacle of Zaporizhzhia RMA reported on the work of air protection within the area. The air pressure warned of enemy assault UAVs transferring from the southeast towards Zaporizhzhia.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan mentioned on Feb. 18 that Turkey is a perfect host for potential peace talks on Russia's conflict towards Ukraine, providing Ankara as a venue for future negotiations.
"Our nation is a perfect host for the negotiations which are more likely to start between Russia, Ukraine, and america," Erdogan mentioned throughout a press convention with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Erdogan highlighted Turkey's earlier mediation efforts, together with the Black Sea grain deal, which enabled Ukrainian agricultural exports till Russia withdrew in 2023.
He reaffirmed that in his talks with Zelensky, Turkey expressed its assist for Ukraine's full territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence.
"On the similar time, I emphasised that we would supply any assist to finish the negotiations and set up sustainable peace. This conflict should finish," Erdogan added.
Zelensky, who postponed a deliberate go to to Saudi Arabia amid ongoing U.S.-Russia talks, reiterated that Ukraine should be included in any negotiations over its future.
The Saudi talks on Feb. 18 marked the primary direct discussions between U.S. and Russian officers because the full-scale invasion started, with Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov assembly U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
U.S. President Donald Trump earlier confirmed he plans to fulfill with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia "very quickly," although no date has been specified.
Ukraine will introduce energy restrictions for enterprise tomorrow: when will they take impact
As a result of harm to vitality amenities brought on by Russian assaults, restrictions might be imposed on business and enterprise on February 19. The restrictions might be in impact from 6:00 to 9:00 and from 15:00 to 22:00.
President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced on Feb. 18 that he had postponed his go to to Saudi Arabia amid talks between Russia and the US.
"We weren’t invited to this Russian-American assembly in Saudi Arabia. It was a shock for us. I don't need any coincidences, so I'm not going to Saudi Arabia," Zelensky stated throughout a briefing following a gathering with Turkish President Recep Erdogan.
The talks in Saudi Arabia mark the primary direct negotiations between the U.S. and Russia since Moscow's full-scale invasion started. Russia's delegation, led by Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov, met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and different officers.
Zelensky reiterated that no selections about Ukraine's future may be made with out Kyiv's involvement. He additionally stated he expects U.S. officers to go to Ukraine, confirming that Trump's particular envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, will arrive in Kyiv on Feb. 19.
"Any nation has a bilateral monitor with different international locations. Please, you possibly can talk about something, however you possibly can't decide on learn how to finish the conflict in Ukraine with out Ukraine," Zelensky stated.
The president additionally introduced that he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and rescheduled his go to to Riyadh for Mar. 10.
In a Feb. 17 interview with German media community ARD, Zelensky warned towards a swiftly negotiated peace deal and reaffirmed that Ukraine wouldn’t settle for an settlement brokered with out its participation.
It stays unclear to what extent Ukraine might be concerned in future discussions between Washington and Moscow.
Keith Kellogg, the US President's particular envoy, will go to Ukraine as a part of a European tour. Zelenskyy intends to take the American consultant to the frontline to indicate the true state of affairs.
A member of Russia's delegation that met with U.S. officers in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18 to debate ending the struggle in Ukraine has mentioned the talks have been "not dangerous," but it surely was "onerous to say" if the 2 sides' pursuits have been converging.
Chatting with the pro-Kremlin Channel One Russia, Yuri Ushakov, an advisor to Russia's President Vladimir Putin, mentioned it was a "very severe dialogue of all the problems we wished to the touch upon."
"We’ve got agreed to take account of one another's pursuits and develop bilateral relations, since each Moscow and Washington have an interest on this," he added.
Ushakov additionally mentioned a gathering between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin have been mentioned, but it surely was unlikely to happen subsequent week as had been beforehand speculated.
Russia is imposing its personal narratives on the peace plan, “however it's a lie” – CPJ
The top of the Middle for Public Advocacy mentioned that Russia is making an attempt to unfold its personal narratives in regards to the peace talks. In accordance with him, there might be no actual plan with out the participation of Ukraine and Europe.
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen met with U.S. Particular Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg in Brussels on Feb. 18, to debate ending Russia's full-scale invasion.
The assembly comes on the identical day that Russia and the U.S. started talks in Saudi Arabia.
Ukraine is just not taking part within the talks, however President Volodymyr Zelensky is because of arrive within the nation within the coming days for an official go to.
"Financially and militarily, Europe has introduced extra to the desk than anybody else. And we’ll step up. We wish to accomplice with the U.S. to ship a simply and lasting peace for Ukraine," von der Leyen wrote on X.
"Now could be a crucial second," she added.
Essential dialogue with @generalkellogg on Ukraine. Financially and militarily, Europe has introduced extra to the desk than anybody else. And we’ll step up. We wish to accomplice with the US to ship a simply and lasting peace for Ukraine. Now could be a crucial second.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) February 18, 2025
Issues have been raised about Ukraine's function within the negotiations, with European officers emphasizing that Kyiv should not be sidelined.
European leaders held an emergency summit in Paris on Feb. 17, reflecting rising European issues that Trump and Putin could also be negotiating over European safety with out the direct involvement of European leaders.
U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed on Feb. 16 that Zelensky would have a say within the course of and talked about the potential for permitting European nations to buy U.S.-made weapons for Ukraine.
Kellogg is predicted to go to Ukraine on Feb. 19 to deal with diplomatic and navy assist and potential pathways to peace. Kellogg didn’t verify whether or not he would go to the entrance strains, as President Volodymyr Zelensky beforehand instructed.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
