Key developments on Feb. 13:
- Russia getting ready delegation for U.S. talks on struggle with Ukraine, contemplate Minsk "expertise," Kremlin says
- Russia's largest metal mill reportedly focused by "huge" Ukrainian drone strike
- NATO "taking up" Ukraine's safety help, army coaching, Umerov says
- Ukrainian drones once more hit oil pumping station in Russia's Tver Oblast, SBU supply claims
Russia has began forming a gaggle for talks with america, together with on the struggle with Ukraine, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov instructed Russian media on Feb. 13.
He mentioned Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed throughout phone talks to instruct aides to arrange for a face-to-face assembly instantly.
Peskov famous that Moscow will contemplate the Minsk settlement's expertise in future negotiations.
"After all, the expertise of the Minsk agreements may be very eloquent, and we’ll at all times take this expertise under consideration in all additional steps," he mentioned.
The Minsk agreements, signed in 2014 and 2015 after Russian army offensives in Ukraine's Donbas, did not convey lasting peace.
Moscow violated the phrases, utilizing them as leverage to push for higher autonomy for Russian-occupied territories whereas sustaining its affect over Ukraine.
Peskov additionally mentioned Russia has but to find out which nations would possibly take part in potential talks and confirmed no contact with European nations on the matter.
"There isn’t any understanding but of the format of a doable dialogue or negotiation course of," he mentioned.
In keeping with the Kremlin spokesperson, Kyiv "will certainly participate within the negotiations in a method or one other," however there may also be a "bilateral Russian-American observe."
Zelensky and Trump agreed to start working towards ending the struggle, in accordance with AndriyYermak, head of Ukraine's Presidential Workplace.
Zelensky mentioned that he desires European companions to be concerned in peace negotiations. Kyiv insists that no talks about Ukraine and ending of Russia's all-out struggle ought to be held with out Ukraine.
The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta
Russia's largest metal mill reportedly focused by "huge" Ukrainian drone strike
Russia's Lipetsk Oblast got here underneath a "huge raid" by drones on the night time of Feb. 13, regional governor Igor Artamonov mentioned.
The drones allegedly focused the Novolipetsk Metal (NLMK), Russia's largest metal mill, which produces about 20% of the nation's metal output, in accordance with pro-Kremlin media outlet Shot.
The ability, situated round 400 kilometers from the Russia-Ukraine border, accounts for 80% of NLMK's metal manufacturing and is a key asset of Russian billionaire Vladimir Lisin, the third richest Russian on Forbes' 2023 checklist.
Following the in a single day assault, energy outages have been reported in a number of districts of Lipetsk. "In the intervening time, energy engineers are reconnecting customers," Artamonov wrote on Telegram.
Particles from one of many downed drones reportedly fell on the Lipetsk aeration station, injuring an worker who was hospitalized with shrapnel wounds.
The Kyiv Unbiased couldn’t confirm the claims.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
NATO "taking up" Ukraine's safety help, army coaching, Umerov says
The U.S. will proceed offering safety help to Ukraine, and NATO is assuming a higher position in supporting the nation, Protection Minister Rustem Umerov mentioned on Feb. 13 throughout a joint speech with NATO Secretary Normal Mark Rutte.
"The U.S. is with us, additionally persevering with (to offer) safety help. NATO is taking up our safety help and (army) coaching," Umerov mentioned.
Rutte expressed his robust perception within the necessity of continuous army help to Ukraine, notably to strengthen Kyiv's place in potential peace talks.
Umerov made the remarks in Brussels, earlier than the beginning of the NATO-Ukraine Council assembly, which will probably be held in a lunch format.
The Kyiv IndependentZaki Laïdi
Ukrainian drones once more hit oil pumping station in Russia's Tver Oblast, SBU supply claims
Ukrainian drones hit the Andreapol oil pumping station in Russia's Tver Oblast for the second time in two weeks in a single day on Feb. 13, a supply within the Safety Service of Ukraine (SBU) instructed the Kyiv Unbiased.
In keeping with the supply, the oil pumping station that got here underneath the SBU's assault is a part of the Baltic Pipeline System-2 operated by Russian state-owned oil pipeline firm Transneft.
The assault prompted a hearth close to a closed switchgear and boiler tools warehouse, the supply mentioned, forcing the ability to droop oil pumping.
The station is situated round 750 kilometers (466 miles) north of Ukrainian border.
"Every single day this oil pumping station's idle time prices Russia tens of thousands and thousands of {dollars} , since it’s a part of the pipeline that provides oil to the Ust-Luga terminal on the Baltic Sea," the supply mentioned.
The Kyiv Unbiased couldn’t confirm these reviews.
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The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Kuleba