Key developments on. Feb. 12:
- Trump holds talks with Zelensky following his 1.5-hour-long dialog with Putin
- 'Restoring Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is unrealistic goal,' Pentagon chief says
- Coordinating allied help — Umerov lists Ukraine's priorities at Ramstein-format summit
- Europe faces 'whole' Russian occupation with out Ukraine's military, Zelensky says
- Ukraine's SBU detains its counter-terrorist heart chief accused of working for Russia
- Russian missile assault on Kyiv damages state-run TV channel's workplace
U.S. President Donald Trump held a telephone dialog with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Feb. 12.
"Simply spoke with Donald Trump. Lengthy dialog. Concerning the prospects of reaching peace. About our willingness to work collectively. About our technological capabilities, together with drones and different trendy manufacturing," Zelensky stated following the decision.
"Ukraine needs peace greater than anybody else. We’re defining our joint steps with America to cease Russian aggression and assure a dependable, lasting peace," he added.
Hours prior, Trump held a name with Russian President Vladimir Putin and agreed that negotiations to finish the battle in Ukraine will begin "instantly."
In a put up on Fact Social, Trump stated each agreed that "we wish to cease the hundreds of thousands of deaths going down within the Struggle with Russia/Ukraine."
Based on Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the 2 leaders spoke for 90 minutes and Putin invited Trump to Moscow.
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Trump added that he had instructed a crew together with State Secretary Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Nationwide Safety Advisor Michael Waltz to steer the negotiations.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Rubio will meet Zelensky on Feb. 14 to start official peace negotiations, Trump introduced on Fact Social.
"I simply spoke to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The dialog went very nicely. He, like President Putin, needs to make peace. We mentioned quite a lot of matters having to do with the battle, however principally, the assembly that’s being arrange on Friday in Munich, the place Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the delegation," Trump wrote.
"I’m hopeful that the outcomes of that assembly might be constructive. It’s time to cease this ridiculous battle, the place there was huge, and completely pointless, loss of life and destruction," he added.
"God bless the individuals of Russia and Ukraine!"
The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov
'Restoring Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is unrealistic goal,' Pentagon chief says
U.S. Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on Feb. 12 that it’s unrealistic to count on that Ukraine can restore its pre-2014 borders in any negotiations with Moscow on ending its battle.
Russia invaded Ukraine's jap Donbas area and annexed Crimea in 2014 following the EuroMaidan Revolution that ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.
Throughout a speech on the Ramstein summit, Hegseth stated that the U.S. additionally needs to see Ukraine as "sovereign and affluent," however that "we should begin by recognizing that returning to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic goal."
"Chasing this illusionary aim will solely lengthen the battle and trigger extra struggling," he added.
Hegseth additionally stated the U.S. doesn’t consider that Ukraine's accession to NATO is a "real looking end result" of negotiations. The Pentagon chief added that any safety ensures supplied to Ukraine should even be "backed by succesful European and non-European troops."
"To be clear, as a part of any safety assure, there won’t be U.S. troops deployed to Ukraine," he stated.
Hegseth arrived on the NATO headquarters in Brussels earlier within the day to take part within the Ramstein-format assembly.
As Washington revises its international and safety coverage after President Donald Trump's return to workplace, the U.Okay. has taken over the U.S.'s position in chairing the Ukraine Protection Contact Group (UDCG).
Ukraine formally utilized to affix NATO in September 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion. Whereas NATO members pledged on the 2024 Washington Summit that Ukraine's path to membership is "irreversible," they’ve but to increase a proper invitation.
Russian officers, in addition to Western intellectuals with a monitor report of anti-Ukraine narratives have repeatedly cited Ukraine's potential NATO membership as a justification for the invasion.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged opposition from a number of NATO members, together with the U.S., Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia, however expressed hope that Trump may sway help for Kyiv's entry.
Coordinating allied help — Umerov lists Ukraine's priorities at Ramstein-format summit
Protection Minister Rustem Umerov has begun his work on the twenty sixth Ramstein-format Ukrainian Protection Contact Group (UDCG) assembly in Brussels on Feb. 12, the primary occasion of its sort not chaired by the U.S.
The assembly, chaired by U.Okay. Protection Secretary John Healey, will concentrate on coordinating help for Ukraine, together with increasing protection manufacturing, financing new enterprises, and rising arms provides by way of European protection trade capacities.
"The principle aim is strengthening army cooperation and actual mechanisms to help Ukraine," Umerov stated.
The agenda consists of guaranteeing a steady and well timed provide of army help in 2025, accelerating the supply of crucial weapons like air protection techniques, aviation, and ammunition, and fostering joint tasks with European companions.
This assembly follows the twenty fifth gathering on Jan. 9, which targeted on strengthening Ukraine's air defenses. This marks the primary Ramstein summit throughout U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.
Trump's return to the White Home has prompted issues not solely about the way forward for the UDCG but additionally in regards to the total allied help for Ukraine. Whereas pledging to dealer a swift peace deal, the U.S. president has been evasive concerning the continued army backing for Kyiv.
"This is a vital stage in strengthening Ukraine's protection capabilities and coordinating additional actions of the allies," Umerov added.
The UDCG, comprising over 50 international locations, together with all NATO members, usually meets on the U.S. Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
The Ramstein summit coincides with different key occasions this week, together with the NATO-Ukraine Council assembly and the Munich Safety Convention.
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent
Europe faces 'whole' Russian occupation with out Ukraine's military, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that with out Ukraine, Europe may face a full-scale Russian occupation because of Moscow's numerical benefit in forces, he stated in a phase of an interview with The Guardian revealed on Feb. 12.
Zelensky highlighted the disparity in forces between Russia and Europe, saying that Ukraine's military consists of 110 brigades, whereas Russia fields 220 and plans to increase to 250 this yr. In distinction, Europe, together with U.S. troops stationed there, has solely about 82 fight brigades, he stated.
"With out Ukraine, Europe might be completely occupied by Russia, if they need. And I consider they (Russia) don’t have anything else on their thoughts," the president stated within the interview.
"At this time, a military of 110 brigades is holding again those that have 220-230. Nevertheless it's one to 2," Zelensky added. The president stated that whereas Russia's numeral benefit in comparison with Ukraine is 2 to 1, compared to Europe, it's three to 1, which is adequate for an efficient offensive.
Zelensky added that Russia intends to extend its forces by 12-15 divisions — round 150,000 troops — by way of mobilization, coaching, and the addition of North Korean troopers. Based on the president, Ukraine's intelligence additionally means that new Russian recruits might be skilled in Belarus.
"After that, they’ll launch a full-scale invasion from there. However who stated that it might be to Ukraine? Russia can invade Poland or Lithuania," Zelensky warned.
The president stated on Jan. 15 that Ukraine's army consists of 880,000 troopers, tasked with defending the complete nation in opposition to the 600,000 Russian troops concentrated in particular areas.
Zelensky additionally disclosed within the interview that an assassination try on him on the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 led to casualties contained in the Presidential Workplace.
The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima
Ukraine's SBU detains its counter-terrorist heart chief accused of working for Russia
The Safety Service of Ukraine (SBU) has detained the pinnacle of the company's counter-terrorism division, who’s suspected of working for Russian intelligence, SBU head Vasyl Maliuk introduced on Feb. 12.
Whereas the company didn’t reveal the suspect's title, the Kyiv Unbiased's SBU sources recognized him as Colonel Dmytro Koziura.
The suspect's illicit actions had been documented in 14 separate circumstances, in line with Maliuk. The SBU chief emphasised that the operation to uncover and detain him required "all doable overt and covert strategies."
The case sheds mild on Russian efforts to infiltrate and undermine Ukraine's safety companies amid the full-scale battle that broke out in 2022.
"Within the course of, we managed to doc the gathering and transmission of related data to Russia," Maliuk added. The suspect was stated to be working with Russia's Federal Safety Service (FSB).
"Utilizing encrypted software program bookmarks, we penetrated the traitor's devices — cell terminals and computer systems. We mainly lived with him and performed audio and video monitoring," the SBU chief added.
The SBU head described the operation as a part of an ongoing inner purge and warned that no Russian infiltration makes an attempt would succeed. Additional particulars of the case are anticipated to be launched quickly.
Russian missile assault on Kyiv damages state-run TV channel's workplace
A Russian ballistic missile strike on Kyiv on Feb. 12 broken the workplace of the state information channels Freedom TV and Dim, the information channels introduced.
The workplace sustained harm to home windows and gear, however the channels stated they continue to be operational. The statements talked about no casualties.
Based on a TSN journalist on the bottom, every thing inside a 300-meter radius was broken. Elements of the facades had been demolished, and doorways had been blown off.
"For terrorists who violate any conventions and disrespect worldwide legislation, the media is a fascinating goal," the Freedom TV channel stated in a press release.
Russia has beforehand focused Ukraine's media infrastructure, together with a strike on Kharkiv's TV broadcasting tower in April 2024 and Kyiv's TV tower in March 2022.
The morning assault on Kyiv struck an industrial zone housing a number of workplace facilities. Footage from the scene reveals shattered glass, structural harm to buildings, and wrecked automobiles. No less than one individual was killed and 4 injured within the metropolis.
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