Key developments on Feb. 18:
- Russia, US conclude Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia, Kremlin advisor says they have been 'not unhealthy'
- Zelensky postpones Saudi Arabia go to amid Russia-US talks
- Over 10,000 purposes to affix army submitted by younger recruits following introduction of 'particular contracts,' Protection Ministry says
- Explosions reported on Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in Italy
- Russia's Lavrov denies 3-point peace plan, warns in opposition to Western peacekeepers in Ukraine
- 'Europe is prepared and keen to step up' — Rutte on safety ensures for Ukraine
- EU should take Russia sanctions into 'its personal fingers,' commissioner says
- France to host second summit on Ukraine, European safety, Reuters reviews
A member of Russia's delegation that met with U.S. officers in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18 to debate ending the conflict in Ukraine has stated the talks have been "not unhealthy," but it surely was "laborious to say" if the 2 sides' pursuits have been converging.
Talking to the pro-Kremlin Channel One Russia, Yuri Ushakov, an advisor to Russia's President Vladimir Putin, stated it was a "very critical dialogue of all the problems we needed to the touch upon."
"Now we have 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.
A Russian delegation led by International Minister Sergey Lavrov met a U.S. delegation led by State Secretary Marco Rubio, the primary official face-to-face contact between the 2 sides because the begin of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Talking after the talks, U.S. State Division spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated the assembly was "an essential step ahead," however added: "One telephone name adopted by one assembly isn’t adequate to determine enduring peace."
Ushakov additionally stated 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.
But, U.S negotiator Mike Waltz harassed that Trump is decided to maneuver in a short time on talks over a possible peace deal in Ukraine, including that "an limitless conflict in Europe isn’t acceptable to Trump."
Separate groups of negotiators from america and Russia will begin speaking on Ukraine "sooner or later," in accordance with Ushakov.
The contributors of the assembly in Riyadh additionally determined to revive embassy staffing for additional diplomatic missions.
"We're going to wish to have vibrant diplomatic missions which can be capable of operate usually so as to have the ability to proceed these conduits," Rubio stated.
The Kyiv IndependentChris York
Answering a query about Europe's absence in Saudi Arabia, Rubio siad that "nobody is being sidelined right here."
He added that "some very optimistic issues for america, for Europe, for Ukraine, for the world" may emerge, however "the battle" should finish first.
"To ensure that a battle to finish, everybody in that battle needs to be okay with it, it needs to be acceptable to them," Rubio stated.
"At this time is step one of a protracted and tough journey, however an essential one," he added.
Russia and the U.S. additionally held separate talks on financial cooperation, together with on international vitality costs, Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev advised Reuters.
Dmitriev added that the latest assembly between Russia and the U.S. has "rejected" the logic of talks beneath the Joe Biden administration.
"There's a brand new logic the place we have to speak and perceive what we agree upon and if there are variations we have to perceive what they’re," he stated.
Although the U.S. and Russia met with out Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky can even head to Saudi Arabia this week.
NBC reported 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.
Zelensky postpones Saudi Arabia go to amid Russia-US talks
President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced on Feb. 18 that he had postponed his go to to Saudi Arabia amid talks between Russia and america.
"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.
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 observe with different nations. Please, you may focus on something, however you may't decide on find out 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 in opposition to a swiftly negotiated peace deal and reaffirmed that Ukraine wouldn’t settle for an settlement brokered with out its participation.
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova
Over 10,000 purposes to affix army submitted by younger recruits following introduction of 'particular contracts,' Protection Ministry says
Ukraine's army has acquired over 10,000 purposes 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 are usually 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 training.
Ukraine's Protection Ministry additionally stated those that full one 12 months of service could be allowed to journey overseas. At present, with a number 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 present, 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 lots of of 1000’s of latest troopers" if it lowered its conscription age to 18.
Kyiv has lengthy opposed U.S. stress to decrease the draft age, with President Volodymyr Zelensky arguing it will hurt Ukraine's future prospects.
The introduction of "particular contracts" seems to be an try by Kyiv to bridge the hole with a compromise resolution — entice younger folks to enroll voluntarily, boosting the armed forces' manpower, whereas avoiding increasing compelled mobilization. A one-year contract possibility would probably attraction to these considering contributing to the conflict effort for a restricted interval.
The Ukrainian army faces a crucial manpower scarcity, struggling to replenish infantry gaps left by heavy losses in battle-hardened brigades.
The Kyiv IndependentAntonina Andriichuk
Explosions reported on Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in Italy
Two explosions befell on the oil tanker Seajewel, moored within the Italian metropolis of Savona on Feb. 18, with the vessel allegedly transporting Russian oil to Europe, Italian publication IVG reported.
The reason for the blasts stays unknown, however preliminary proof suggests attainable sabotage, together with injury under the waterline and a fish kill close to the tanker.
The Seajewel, a part of Moscow's "shadow fleet" used to evade sanctions, had beforehand loaded oil in Russia thrice in 2024, according to Ukrainian Pravda (UP).
The crew reported listening to two loud bangs, and the tanker's hull confirmed concave injury, indicating the attainable placement of explosive units.
UP revealed that the tanker had lately unloaded within the Romanian port of Constanta after arriving from Turkey and was reportedly heading to Novorossiysk, Russia, for reloading.
The Savona Coast Guard is investigating the incident with divers, although no additional particulars have been launched.
Russia's "shadow fleet" consists of growing old tankers used to bypass sanctions, together with these imposed by the EU, U.Ok., and U.S. Ukraine lately sanctioned captains of those vessels, targeting Russian and Iranian nationals concerned in illicit oil exports.
A rising portion of Russia's oil tanker fleet is being compelled to reflag as sanctions intensify, disrupting Moscow's oil export logistics and forcing tankers to re-register in much less respected jurisdictions, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 23.
Russia's Lavrov denies 3-point peace plan, warns in opposition to Western peacekeepers in Ukraine
Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Feb. 18 that Moscow had not seen a three-point peace plan and warned that Russia wouldn’t settle for the deployment of Western troops in Ukraine.
The alleged plan, which reportedly features a ceasefire, elections in Ukraine, and a closing peace settlement, was revealed by Fox Information Senior White Home Correspondent Jacqui Heinrich on X.
"I’ve not seen this info, I’ve not seen these reviews," Lavrov stated at a press convention following U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia.
Lavrov additionally warned that Russia wouldn’t settle for the deployment of NATO army personnel in Ukraine after any potential peace deal. He claimed that even when Western troops operated beneath EU or nationwide flags, moderately than NATO's, it will nonetheless be a "direct menace" to Russia.
"The absorption of Ukraine by the North Atlantic Alliance is a direct menace to the pursuits of the Russian Federation, a direct menace to our sovereignty," he claimed.
Kyiv stated that robust safety guarantees are important for any peace settlement. The deployment of peacekeepers in Ukraine has been thought of as one attainable possibility.
Lavrov additional escalated rhetoric in opposition to President Volodymyr Zelensky, suggesting that he and his group needs to be "calmed down" following a Ukrainian drone strike on a pumping station in Russia's Kuban area.
"This could solely strengthen everybody within the opinion that this may't go on, that this man and his total group needs to be calmed down, given a slap on the wrist," he stated.
The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov
'Europe is prepared and keen to step up' — Rutte on safety ensures for Ukraine
Europe is prepared and keen 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 war in Ukraine.
"Prepared and keen. That's my take from at the moment's assembly in Paris," Rutte wrote.
"Europe is prepared and keen to step up. To steer in offering safety ensures for Ukraine. Prepared and keen to take a position much more in our safety. The small print will must be determined, however the dedication is obvious," Rutte added.
Through the Paris assembly, the contributors mentioned the protection capabilities that Europe may 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 accordance with 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 Kyiv IndependentChris York
EU should take Russia sanctions into 'its personal fingers,' commissioner says
The European Union should take higher management of its sanctions coverage in opposition to Russia as U.S. priorities shift, EU Economic system and Commerce Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis stated on Feb. 18.
"With the present Trump administration, the EU might want to take points associated to the bloc's safety extra into its personal fingers. That additionally issues sanctions coverage," Dombrovskis stated throughout a meeting with journalists in Brussels.
The commissioner added that work on getting ready the sixteenth bundle of sanctions in opposition to Russia is ongoing.
His remarks come as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted that the EU would finally must be concerned in discussions over sanctions reduction as a part of ongoing talks with Russia.
"The European Union goes to must be on the desk in some unspecified time in the future as a result of they’ve sanctions as effectively," Rubio stated after U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia.
The Group of Seven (G7) nations agreed to hyperlink any future tightening of sanctions in opposition to Russia to the progress of upcoming peace negotiations on Feb. 15.
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 delivery corporations facilitating Russia's crude oil gross sales.
The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta
France to host second summit on Ukraine, European safety, Reuters reviews
France plans to host one other high-level assembly on Feb. 19 to debate Ukraine and European safety, increasing participation to nations omitted 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 Common Mark Rutte and high EU officers.
The talks focused on Ukraine's safety, its potential NATO membership, and Europe's broader protection technique.
Based on Reuters, Paris has now invited extra European nations and Canada to affix the upcoming assembly, both in particular person or through video hyperlink.
The expanded visitor checklist 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 because the begin of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian delegation, led by International 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 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 straight involved within the talks however assured that its pursuits could be thought of.
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