Last news • War in Ukraine
Authorities allocates UAH 1.5 billion to shelter Chornobyl NPP after Russian drone strike
The Cupboard of Ministers allocates UAH 1.5 billion to take care of the secure situation of the Chornobyl NPP shelter after it was broken by a Russian drone. A further €400 million is deliberate to be raised from the EIB for energy-efficient reconstruction.
Europe is prepared and prepared to take a management function in offering Ukraine with safety ensures, NATO Secretary Common Mark Rutte wrote on Feb. 17 on X.
Rutte's remarks got here after French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a Paris summit of European powers. The summit was held earlier than the start of the U.S.-Russia talks on ending the conflict in Ukraine.
"Prepared and prepared. That's my take from as we speak's assembly in Paris," Rutte wrote.
"Europe is prepared and prepared to step up. To guide in offering safety ensures for Ukraine. Prepared and prepared to speculate much more in our safety. The main points will should be determined, however the dedication is obvious," Rutte added.
Prepared and prepared. That’s my take from as we speak’s assembly in Paris. Europe is prepared and prepared to step up. To guide in offering safety ensures for Ukraine. Prepared and prepared to speculate much more in our safety. The main points will want to be determined however the dedication is obvious. pic.twitter.com/Y4ClrX94Qe
— Mark Rutte (@SecGenNATO) February 17, 2025
Throughout the Paris assembly, the contributors mentioned the protection capabilities that Europe might present to Ukraine to make sure dependable safety ensures, together with a plan for Ukraine's "automated membership in NATO" within the occasion of Russia's clear ceasefire violation, in response to The Guardian.
European leaders are involved in regards to the potential imposition of neutrality on Ukraine and joint U.S.-Russian powers' sharing of agreed-upon spheres of affect following the negotiations.
The talks between Russia and the U.S. started on Feb. 18.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Nationwide Safety Adviser Mike Waltz, and Center East Envoy Steve Witkoff are assembly with Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov and Kremlin overseas coverage advisor Yuri Ushakov.
The Kyiv IndependentChris York
50 IDP households have already acquired compensation for destroyed housing – Kuleba
The Ministry of Growth has launched a compensation program for destroyed housing for IDPs with a finances of UAH 15 billion. This system will assist about 10,000 households to get new houses, and 50 households have already bought housing.
Russia has misplaced 861,090 troops in Ukraine for the reason that starting of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the Normal Workers of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Feb. 18.
This quantity contains 1,170 casualties Russian forces suffered simply over the previous day.
In accordance with the report, Russia has additionally misplaced 10,101 tanks, 21,075 armored preventing automobiles, 37,679 automobiles and gasoline tanks, 23,275 artillery methods, 1,285 a number of launch rocket methods, 1,068 air protection methods, 370 airplanes, 331 helicopters, 25,586 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.
The Kyiv IndependentChris York
European leaders discover no fast reply at Ukraine summit amid Trump's remarks – Politico
At an emergency assembly in Paris, European leaders didn’t agree on a standard place on sending troops to safe a potential peace deal. France helps the thought, whereas Poland and Germany oppose it.
Ukraine's army has acquired over 10,000 functions from volunteer recruits aged 18 to 24 following the introduction of profitable "particular contracts," Protection Ministry Spokesperson Dmytro Lazutkin stated on Ukrainian TV on Feb. 17.
The contracts, aimed toward recruiting extra army personnel who should not topic to mobilization, present a number of advantages, together with a Hr 1 million ($24,000) annual wage, 0% curiosity mortgage charges, and free larger schooling.
Ukraine's Protection Ministry additionally stated those that full one yr of service could be allowed to journey overseas. At the moment, with a couple of exemptions, all males aged 18-60 are prohibited from travelling abroad whereas martial regulation is in place.
U.S. lawmakers and NATO allies have repeatedly urged Ukraine to decrease its draft age from 25 to 18 to handle manpower shortages. At the moment, Ukrainian males aged 25 to 60 are topic to conscription.
U.S. President Donald Trump's Nationwide Safety Advisor Michael Waltz stated in January that Ukraine "may generate a whole lot of hundreds of latest troopers" if it lowered its conscription age to 18.
Kyiv has lengthy opposed U.S. strain to decrease the draft age, with President Volodymyr Zelensky arguing it could hurt Ukraine's future prospects.
The introduction of "particular contracts" seems to be an try by Kyiv to bridge the hole with a compromise answer — entice younger individuals to enroll voluntarily, boosting the armed forces' manpower, whereas avoiding increasing pressured mobilization. A one-year contract choice would probably enchantment to these fascinated about contributing to the battle effort for a restricted interval.
The Ukrainian army faces a important manpower scarcity, struggling to replenish infantry gaps left by heavy losses in battle-hardened brigades.
The Kyiv IndependentAntonina Andriichuk
Macron: With out safety ensures for Ukraine, new agreements might repeat the destiny of Minsk
The French president mentioned that peace in Ukraine is feasible provided that Russia stops its aggression and offers dependable safety ensures. Macron mentioned this subject with the leaders of the EU, the US, and Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelensky warned in opposition to a swiftly negotiated peace deal from the Trump administration throughout a wide-ranging interview with German media community ARD printed Feb. 17, reaffirming that Ukraine wouldn’t settle for a peace deal negotiated with out the nation's involvement.
"Every thing that Russia and the U.S. can agree on – in the event that they even wish to agree on one thing – considerations their bilateral relations. They definitely can’t negotiate about our folks and our lives. About an finish to the battle with out us," Zelensky instructed ARD.
Zelensky's feedback come forward of an anticipated meeting on Feb. 18 between a U.S. and Russian delegation as negotiations about learn how to finish the battle in Ukraine start. Kyiv has not acquired an invite to attend the assembly in Riyadh, with President Volodymyr Zelensky telling reporters that he discovered in regards to the conferences by media studies.
"Ukraine knew nothing about it. And Ukraine considers any negotiations on Ukraine with out Ukraine (as such) to be futile," Zelensky mentioned throughout a press briefing within the United Arab Emirates.
NBC Information reported on Feb. 16, citing two U.S. officers, that the intention is for the U.S. to host a bilateral assembly with Russia, adopted by a bilateral assembly with Ukraine, and culminating with talks collectively.
The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova
Throughout his interview, Zelensky additionally warned in opposition to a peace plan that included unfavorable phrases for Ukraine, emphasizing that Ukraine "won’t quit" its land in a everlasting ceasefire.
Zelensky rebuked feedback made by U.S. Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth on Feb. 12 that Ukraine is unlikely to restore its 2014 borders in any negotiations with Moscow on ending its battle. Consultants and officers in Ukraine and Europe have criticized Hegseth's feedback for undermining Ukraine's leverage earlier than peace talks with Russia have even began.
"The U.S. is saying issues in the present day which are very nice for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. I feel that’s the crux of the matter. As a result of they wish to please him. Have you learnt why? To fulfill one another and to have a fast success," Zelensky mentioned.
Zelensky added that Hegseth "ought to delve deeper into the small print" and that "he wants time for that."
"After all, we are going to reclaim every thing. Respect for worldwide legislation will return — if not in the present day, then tomorrow," Zelensky concluded, noting that ceasefire negotiations should embody safety ensures from the USA.
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 mirrored rising European considerations that Trump and Putin could also be negotiating over European safety with out the direct involvement of European leaders.
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.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
Europe is able to “take the lead” in offering safety ensures to Ukraine
At a gathering in Paris, EU leaders supported the “peace by way of power” technique for Ukraine. Europe is able to improve army help and supply safety ensures whereas preserving Ukraine's sovereignty.
U.Ok. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has referred to as on U.S. President Donald Trump to offer American navy backing for a proposed European peacekeeping drive in Ukraine, arguing that solely a U.S. safety assure can deter Russia from launching additional aggression.
His enchantment got here after an emergency summit in Paris on Feb. 17, the place European leaders debated growing protection spending and mentioned the potential deployment of European forces, based on the Guardian. Starmer reiterated his willingness to ship British troops as a part of a multinational drive however insisted that U.S. involvement was important to make sure its effectiveness.
The Paris summit, convened by French President Emmanuel Macron on brief discover, mirrored rising European considerations that Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could also be negotiating over European safety with out the direct involvement of European leaders.
The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima
Whereas some leaders, together with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, opposed discussions on deploying a European drive, Starmer pushed ahead, arguing that European troops would wish American logistical and navy help. U.Ok. protection officers have pressured that even a non-combat peacekeeping drive of 30,000 troops would require NATO’s safety, notably by way of air cowl and logistics.
Scholz, whereas agreeing {that a} European drive couldn’t function with out U.S. backing, dismissed the timing of the talk as untimely. He criticized discussions about troop deployment whereas Russia continues its battle in Ukraine, arguing that the main focus ought to stay on navy and monetary help for Kyiv.
Different European leaders, together with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, emphasised the pressing want to spice up European protection spending to counter Russia’s navy energy. Tusk warned that until European international locations take fast steps to strengthen their defenses, they’ll wrestle to offer significant help for Ukraine.
If we, Europeans, fail to spend huge on defence now, we shall be compelled to spend 10 occasions extra if we don’t forestall a wider battle. Because the Polish PM I’m entitled to say it loud and clear, since Poland already spends nearly 5% of its GDP on defence. And we are going to proceed to take action.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) February 17, 2025
Considerations over Trump’s potential method to peace negotiations with Russia dominated the summit, as European leaders concern he might push for a ceasefire that doesn’t account for Ukrainian pursuits.
Senior U.S. and Russian diplomats are set to fulfill in Riyadh to observe up on a telephone name Trump initiated with Putin final week.
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. Rubio echoed comparable feedback, including that Ukraine and Europe should play a task in severe negotiations with the U.S. and Russia to finish the battle.
European diplomats are more and more anxious that Trump would possibly make unilateral concessions to Russia, comparable to lifting key sanctions or withdrawing U.S. troops from Europe, as a part of a broader cope with Moscow.
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent