Key developments on Feb. 25:
- Ukraine, US attain settlement on minerals deal
- Russia's conflict aims 'not but achieved,' Kremlin's ambassador says
- Reclaiming occupied territories attainable however 'not simple' for Ukraine, Trump claims
- Ukraine wants $524 billion for restoration, reconstruction after 3 years of Russia's full-scale conflict
- Russia's Ryazan oil refinery halts operations following drone strike, Reuters stories
Ukraine has reached an settlement with the U.S. on a minerals deal, Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister and justice minister, advised the Monetary Occasions on Feb. 25.
President Volodymyr Zelensky's workplace confirmed to the Kyiv Impartial that an settlement has been reached.
The negotiations across the deal have fueled tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Zelensky previously week.
In keeping with the Monetary Occasions report, Ukraine has secured extra favorable phrases and framed the deal as a approach to strengthen ties with the U.S.
Zelensky is anticipated to move to Washington for a signing ceremony within the coming weeks, in keeping with the Monetary Occasions.
The ultimate model of the settlement, dated Feb. 24, establishes a fund to which Ukraine will contribute 50% of proceeds from the "future monetization" of state-owned mineral sources, together with oil, gasoline, and associated logistics. The fund will spend money on initiatives inside Ukraine.
The deal excludes sources that already contribute to Ukraine's state funds, which means it won’t cowl operations by Naftogaz and Ukrnafta, the nation's largest oil and gasoline producers.
The settlement doesn’t embrace safety ensures from the U.S., which Kyiv had initially insisted on.
The newest draft of the settlement drops earlier U.S. calls for for a $500 billion declare over Ukraine’s pure sources, which had been a serious sticking level, according to the Ukrainian media outlet Financial Pravda, which has seen the settlement.
Beneath the revised phrases, the fund will obtain 50% of revenues from Ukraine’s resource-related infrastructure, together with ports. Joint possession might be decided primarily based on precise monetary contributions, and whereas administration might be shared, the U.S. could have decision-making authority beneath its personal legal guidelines.
The questions of the U.S. stake within the fund and the phrases of “joint possession” might be addressed in follow-up agreements, in keeping with the Monetary Occasions.
Zelensky had beforehand rejected the U.S. proposal, citing the shortage of safety ensures and objecting to the 1:2 compensation construction, which might have required Ukraine to return two {dollars} for each one obtained in assist.
The Trump administration has elevated stress on Ukraine to finalize the deal previously weeks, with Trump publicly attacking Zelensky, calling him a "dictator with out elections" and urging him to "transfer quick, or he gained’t have a rustic left."
Trump has framed the settlement as a approach to strengthen Ukraine’s financial system whereas guaranteeing the U.S. "recoups the tens of billions of {dollars} and army tools despatched to Ukraine."
The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov
Russia's conflict aims 'not but achieved,' Kremlin's ambassador says
Russia's said objectives in its conflict in opposition to Ukraine stay unachieved regardless of ongoing diplomatic efforts to start out peace negotiations, Russian International Ministry's Ambassador-at-Giant Rodion Miroshnik mentioned on Feb. 25, in keeping with the Russian state-owned information company TASS.
"The aims of the Particular Army Operation haven’t but been achieved," Miroshnik mentioned, utilizing the Kremlin's time period for its conflict in opposition to Ukraine.
The aims embrace Russia's failure to totally occupy Ukraine's 4 areas it has illegally annexed and the necessity to guarantee Kyiv now not "poses a menace" to Moscow.
"The constitutional territories of Russia haven’t been liberated," he mentioned.
Russia illegally annexed Ukraine's Crimea in 2014, followed by Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts in 2022.
Moscow doesn’t management all of those territories, together with the regional capitals of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded Ukraine withdraw from all 4 oblasts as a situation for negotiations.
Miroshnik mentioned that whereas military aims stay unachieved, Russia could try to realize them via future negotiations.
Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov mentioned on Feb. 24 that Moscow would comply with a ceasefire provided that negotiations yield a "sustainable consequence" that "fits" Russia.
The U.S. held direct talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18, excluding Ukraine from the assembly. The choice sparked criticism in Kyiv and Europe, with leaders involved about being sidelined in negotiations.
Preparations are underway for a gathering between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin, with Russian Deputy International Minister Sergei Ryabkov saying it might occur by the top of February.
Trump mentioned on Feb. 24 that Russia's conflict in opposition to Ukraine might finish "within weeks" and claimed Putin would settle for European peacekeepers in Ukraine as a part of a possible deal.
The U.Okay. is reportedly getting ready a plan to deploy 30,000 European troops as a post-ceasefire safety assure.
Western intelligence officers have expressed skepticism about Moscow's willingness to barter in good religion. NBC Information reported on Feb. 18 that Putin isn’t severe a few peace deal and is as a substitute utilizing talks to consolidate Russian territorial positive aspects.
The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta
Reclaiming occupied territories attainable however 'not simple' for Ukraine, Trump claims
U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned on Feb. 24 that he believes Ukraine would possibly be capable to reclaim a few of its territories occupied by Russia, however it will be difficult.
He stated this in response to journalists throughout a gathering with French President Emmanuel Macron, which befell on the White Home.
"You’re asking whether or not or not they (Ukrainians) might take again the land that they misplaced. And I say that sure, maybe a few of it, sure. However that’s not a simple factor to do,” Trump mentioned.
He additionally famous that this query is an element of the present negotiations which have just lately began with Russia.
“We’ll see,” Trump mentioned. “There was quite a lot of land that has been taken, so we should see the way it works out. It’s a part of the negotiation.”
The U.S. held the first round of talks immediately with Russia on Feb. 18, excluding Ukraine from the assembly. The choice sparked a backlash in Europe and Ukraine, with European leaders nervous they have been being sidelined by the U.S.
Macron has just lately rallied European counterparts to debate safety guarantees for Ukraine. U.Okay. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to go to Washington later this week to satisfy with Trump.
The Kyiv IndependentVolodymyr Ivanyshyn
Ukraine wants $524 billion for restoration, reconstruction after 3 years of Russia's full-scale conflict
The price of reconstruction and restoration in Ukraine after three years of Russia's full-scale invasion might be $524 billion over the subsequent decade, the U.N. reported on Feb. 25, citing information from Ukraine's authorities, the World Financial institution, the European Fee, and the U.N.
For the reason that starting of the full-scale invasion, Russia has been attacking Ukrainian cities and villages day by day, destroying residential buildings, essential infrastructure, cultural heritage websites, and sports activities venues, amongst different services.
The required reconstruction prices are 2.8 occasions increased than Ukraine's nominal GDP for 2024, in keeping with the report.
Direct losses in Ukraine reached $176 billion on the finish of December 2024 in comparison with $152 billion in February final 12 months, the Fast Injury and Wants Evaluation (RDNA4) by the World Financial institution estimated.
Housing, transportation, energy, commerce and trade, and training sectors have suffered probably the most from Russian attacks, the report learn.
Some 13% of Ukraine's complete housing inventory was broken or destroyed, affecting over 2.5 million properties.
Within the vitality sector, the variety of broken or destroyed belongings, together with manufacturing, transmission, distribution, and district heating infrastructure, elevated by 70%.
Donetsk, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Kyiv oblasts sustained almost 72% of the entire harm.
The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak
Russia's Ryazan oil refinery halts operations following drone strike, Reuters stories
Russia’s Ryazan oil refinery suspended operations after a Ukrainian drone assault set its principal crude distillation unit, CDU-6, on fireplace, Reuters reported on Feb. 24.
The refinery, owned by Russia's state vitality firm Rosneft, halted oil processing completely, a number of trade sources told Reuters.
Nonetheless, it might partially resume operations inside days by utilizing CDU-4 and CDU-3 models, whereas CDU-6 is repaired.
The assault brought about a minimum of 5 explosions, with native authorities attributing the hearth to falling drone particles.
This refinery had solely just lately resumed exercise on Feb. 11 following an 18-day shutdown after a earlier assault.
That is the third time because the starting of 2025 that drones have attacked the Ryazan Oil Refinery, in keeping with the impartial Telegram channel Astra.
The Ryazan Oil Refinery is considered one of Russia's 5 largest oil refining services, in keeping with AndriiKovalenko, head of Ukraine's Middle for Countering Disinformation. Its capability is 17.1 million metric tons of oil per 12 months.
Kovalenko added that the gasoline produced on the enterprise is utilized by the Russian military's strategic long-range aviation, which launches missile strikes in opposition to Ukraine.
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