Last news • War in Ukraine
Denmark calls on Europe to rearm as a result of risk from Russia
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said that Europe must rearm due to the risk from Russia. She emphasised the significance of stopping the unfold of Russian aggression past Ukraine.
U.S. particular envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, will arrive in Ukraine on Feb. 19, touring by in a single day prepare from Poland. His go to will final three days, although the schedule remains to be being finalized.
Talking to journalists in Brussels on Feb. 17, Kellogg confirmed his journey plans, saying he would first head to Warsaw on Tuesday earlier than taking an evening prepare to Kyiv. "I’m taking the prepare tomorrow evening and will probably be there (in Kyiv) on Wednesday morning," he stated in response to a query from Interfax-Ukraine.
His conferences with Ukrainian officers are anticipated to deal with diplomatic and navy help and potential pathways to peace.
Kellogg's go to comes at a important time because the U.S. intensifies efforts to assist finish Russia's battle in Ukraine. Nonetheless, considerations are mounting in Kyiv and European capitals that they might be sidelined from essential negotiations, probably jeopardizing their pursuits and long-term regional safety.
The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima
Kellogg didn’t verify whether or not he would go to the entrance strains, as President Volodymyr Zelensky beforehand instructed. " I wish to go to the entrance with him, and he’ll go to the entrance with me. I don't suppose he’ll refuse," Zelensky stated on Feb. 17.
Kellogg added that his itinerary stays beneath dialogue however confirmed conferences with Ukrainian officers. "Concerning my journey to Ukraine, it’s nonetheless being finalized. Will I’m going? Sure. Will I meet with President Zelensky? Sure," he stated.
Talking throughout the Munich Safety Convention on Feb. 15, Kellogg harassed that each Ukraine and Russia must make concessions to finish the battle.
"If you say concessions, in fact, they're concessions that either side are going to have to offer," Kellogg stated, with out specifying what concessions the nations must make.
"If you happen to suppose you're going to kill your method out of this, you're improper as a result of you’ve a awful view of historical past," Kellogg continued, noting that Russia was "keen to sacrifice" massive variety of Russian troopers on the battlefield, invoking reminiscences of the 700,000 Russian troopers misplaced within the Battle of Stalingrad throughout World Conflict II.
The Kyiv IndependentChris York
Enemy shelling of Kyiv: the town authorities specified the implications of falling particles from a downed UAV
Russian troops attacked Kyiv with drones within the night of February 17. The falling wreckage of a downed drone induced a hearth in a warehouse within the Sviatoshynskyi district.
With the Trump administration now in energy within the U.S., there’s a probability that the "scorching section" of Moscow's struggle towards Ukraine might quickly finish, Russian UN Consultant Vasily Nebeznya mentioned on Feb. 17 as cited by pro-Kremlin outlet Kommersant.
Nebeznya claimed {that a} ceasefire and freezing hostilities alone wouldn’t resolve the battle, outlining Moscow's situations for a settlement.
The ambassador's remarks come forward of talks between Russian and U.S. officers in Saudi Arabia, the place either side are anticipated to debate ending the struggle.
In line with Nebeznya, Ukraine needs to be a "demilitarized, impartial state" outdoors any alliances, a place Kyiv rejects, warning that with out safety ensures, Russia might launch one other invasion.
Nebenzya additionally claimed that Ukraine had "irrevocably misplaced" Crimea, in addition to Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. On the identical day, Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the concept of creating territorial concessions to Ukraine.
Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 and components of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts in 2022, regardless of not absolutely controlling all of them, together with the regional capitals of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
The Kremlin has beforehand mentioned that any peace talks should be based mostly on Ukrainian forces fully withdrawing from the annexed areas.
President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned on Feb. 15 that Russia should pull again its troops to the entrance line because it was earlier than the full-scale invasion in 2022.
He is not going to ship troops: Tusk explains how Poland will assist Ukraine sooner or later
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk introduced that he would proceed to assist Ukraine within the logistics and humanitarian spheres. He emphasised the significance of investing within the safety of Europe's japanese flank to successfully assist Ukraine.
European nations contemplating deploying troops to Ukraine as a part of a possible ceasefire monitoring mission may ship between 25,000 and 30,000 troopers, the Washington Submit reported on Feb. 17, citing sources acquainted with the matter.
The discussions come amid rising Western deliberations over stationing peacekeeping forces in Ukraine if negotiations with Russia result in a ceasefire.
Whereas the U.S. has dominated out sending troops, Washington has inspired European allies to take the lead in securing Ukraine's post-war stability.
In keeping with the Submit, the estimated troop numbers emerged in response to a U.S. questionnaire despatched to European international locations asking them to evaluate their capabilities to assist Kyiv.
The deliberate pressure wouldn’t be deployed alongside the entrance line however could be positioned to reply swiftly if Russian forces resumed hostilities.
France has reportedly carried out essentially the most detailed army planning for such a mission and will commit as much as 10,000 troops.
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
The U.Okay. has additionally indicated willingness to contribute forces, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer signaling assist for a European-led initiative on Feb. 16.
Different European nations stay cautious, citing issues over the escalation and restricted army assets, in keeping with the Washington Submit.
Nations like Poland and Germany are cautious about making main strikes forward of their upcoming nationwide elections. Some are reportedly hesitant to take dangers with out elevated U.S. involvement.
President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced that Kyiv had made important progress securing a overseas army presence on its territory.
On Jan. 22, Zelensky mentioned the variety of European peacekeepers required to take care of peace in Ukraine would rely upon the dimensions of Ukraine's personal army.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
Germany offers Ukraine a brand new weapons package deal: what it consists of
Germany has supplied one other package deal of army assist to Ukraine, together with drones, artillery and ammunition. The whole quantity of army assist because the starting of the conflict has reached 28 billion euros.
Ukraine has made progress in the direction of establishing a overseas navy contingent on its territory, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Feb. 17, following his go to to the United Arab Emirates.
Zelensky described the event as a concrete step past diplomatic discussions, signaling a shift towards tangible worldwide safety cooperation.
The announcement comes amid rising discussions within the West about deploying peacekeeping forces to Ukraine if a ceasefire settlement with Russia is reached. Whereas the U.S. has dominated out sending troops, Washington has urged European allies to take the lead.
The president additionally stated establishing a overseas contingent might be step one towards making a unified European armed pressure.
"I consider that that is the primary platform for the long run creation of such a pressure — the Armed Forces of Europe, such a military that can be capable to reply within the sky, on water, on land, with drones in synthetic intelligence, in addition to within the occasion of a Russian offensive," he stated.
Zelensky clarified {that a} overseas navy presence doesn’t essentially imply troops stationed on Ukrainian soil however may embrace air protection methods and weapons to boost safety.
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
"Within the challenge of the overseas contingent, it is vitally vital to not lose the USA of America in a single type or one other," Zelensky added.
A bunch of European nations is reportedly engaged on a plan to deploy peacekeepers to Ukraine, reflecting considerations about shifting U.S. safety priorities.
On Feb. 16, U.Ok. Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicated Britain's willingness to contribute troops as a part of a European-led initiative, doubtlessly rising strain on Germany and different allies to take part.
Zelensky first known as on Europe to ascertain its armed forces throughout a speech on the Munich Safety Convention on Feb. 15, citing considerations over the long-term reliability of U.S. help.
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
Ukraine will introduce energy restrictions for enterprise tomorrow: the schedule is already recognized
On February 18, Ukraine will introduce energy restrictions for trade in two intervals: within the morning and within the night. The rationale for that is the harm to vitality services on account of Russian assaults.
French President Emmanuel Macron is internet hosting a Paris summit of European powers on Feb. 17 to debate Ukraine's potential NATO membership, amongst different points, The Guardian reported.
The summit might be held on the identical day a U.S. delegation arrives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for talks with Russian officers on ending the conflict in Ukraine.
Macron is planning to convene European leaders to demand that the U.S. cease blocking Europe and Kyiv from the negotiation course of, The Guardian reported.
The Paris assembly will talk about the protection capabilities that Europe might present to Ukraine to make sure dependable safety ensures, together with a plan for Ukraine's "computerized membership in NATO" within the occasion of Russia's clear ceasefire violation, the newspaper reported.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will attend the assembly.
Italy and Denmark, representing the Baltic and Scandinavian international locations, in addition to NATO Secretary Normal Mark Rutte and European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen, will even be a part of the summit, the media reported citing undisclosed European diplomatic sources.
Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to satisfy with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in talks between the U.S. and Russia. This would be the first assembly between the 2 international locations at this degree within the final two years.
European leaders are involved concerning the potential imposition of neutrality on Ukraine and joint U.S.-Russian powers' sharing of agreed-upon spheres of affect following the negotiations.
The summit will even have to find out how to answer a U.S. request to make clear whether or not EU leaders are keen to contribute troops to a stabilization pressure within the occasion of a ceasefire, in accordance with The Guardian.
Ukraine formally utilized to hitch NATO in September 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion. Whereas NATO members asserted on the 2024 summit in Washington, D.C., that Ukraine's path to membership is "irreversible," they’ve but to increase a proper invitation.
Ukraine has relied on NATO member states for navy support in its protection towards Russia's full-scale invasion. Ukraine frequently holds visits and summits with NATO leaders.
The Kyiv IndependentElsa Court