Key developments on Feb. 24:
- Struggle in Ukraine may finish 'inside weeks,' Putin open to peacekeepers, Trump claims
- UN adopts Ukraine's decision condemning Russia's invasion — US, Russia, Belarus vote in opposition to
- European leaders arrive in Kyiv on third anniversary of full-scale battle
- Round 165,000 Russian troops killed in Ukraine, media studies
- Ukrainian drones reportedly strike Russian refinery in Ryazan Oblast for third time in 2025
- Moscow open to ceasefire solely when talks yield outcomes that 'go well with Russia,' Lavrov says
- Zelensky despatched Trump checklist of all 'ceasefires' violated by Russia
U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned on Feb. 24 that Russia's battle in opposition to Ukraine may finish "inside weeks" and claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin would permit European peacekeepers to be stationed in Ukraine as a part of a possible settlement.
"I believe we may finish it inside weeks. If we're good. If we're not good, it'll maintain going, and we'll maintain dropping younger, lovely people who shouldn't be dying," he mentioned, talking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron on the White Home.
Trump claimed the U.S. supported sending European troops to watch a ceasefire and that he had mentioned the proposal with Putin, who "would settle for it."
When requested whether or not Ukraine ought to be prepared to cede territory to Russia as a part of a negotiated settlement, Trump responded, "We'll see," noting that talks are nonetheless within the early phases.
Macron mentioned Europe is ready to offer safety ensures to Ukraine, together with peacekeepers, in case of a ceasefire.
American and Russian officers met in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18 with out Ukrainian or European participation, with a follow-up assembly scheduled for Feb. 25.
Macron has not too long ago rallied European counterparts to debate safety ensures for Ukraine. U.Okay. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to go to Washington later this week to fulfill with Trump.
The U.Okay. is reportedly getting ready to suggest a plan to deploy 30,000 European peacekeepers to Ukraine as a post-ceasefire safety assure. Macron has additionally led requires a European-led mission to make sure stability in Ukraine.
Trump has repeatedly mentioned he needs Europe to take over accountability for funding and overseeing Ukraine's safety.
His administration has additionally pressured Kyiv to signal a minerals deal with the U.S., which President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized for providing no safety ensures in return.
The Kyiv IndependentEdward C. Chow
UN adopts Ukraine's decision condemning Russia's invasion — US, Russia, Belarus vote in opposition to
The UN Basic Meeting accredited a Ukrainian decision on Feb. 24 condemning Russia's full-scale invasion, with 93 nations voting in favor and 18 in opposition to.
The U.S., Israel, Hungary, Russia, and Belarus have voted in opposition to the decision.
The decision, drafted by Kyiv and supported by all EU states besides Hungary, reaffirms Ukraine's territorial integrity. It explicitly names Russia because the aggressor.
On the identical day, the Basic Meeting handed a separate U.S. decision marking the third anniversary of the invasion. That decision additionally acquired 93 votes in favor however averted instantly calling Russia the aggressor. Ukraine abstained from voting on the U.S. model.
In line with Suspilne, Washington despatched letters to UN member states urging them to help its decision. The transfer aligns with latest U.S. efforts to melt language on Russia in worldwide statements.
U.S. Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth and Nationwide Safety Advisor Mike Waltz each declined to explicitly identify Russia because the aggressor in Fox News interviews. Hegseth referred to the battle as "a really difficult state of affairs" when requested if Russia attacked Ukraine unprovoked.
U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia whereas adopting more and more hostile rhetoric towards Kyiv.
He not too long ago known as President Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator" and falsely claimed Ukraine started the battle — earlier than later conceding that "Russia attacked, however they shouldn’t have let him assault."
The shift in U.S. language extends past the UN. The Monetary Occasions reported that the U.S. opposed referring to Russia because the aggressor in a G7 assertion commemorating the invasion's anniversary.
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova
European leaders arrive in Kyiv on third anniversary of full-scale battle
European Council President Antonio Costa and European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on Feb. 24 on the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale battle in opposition to Ukraine.
European leaders and different companions are arriving in Kyiv for a summit to debate the nation's technique for potential negotiations and safety ensures. The assembly is happening amid uncertainty concerning the U.S.'s continued dedication to Ukraine's and Europe's safety beneath President Donald Trump.
"We’re in Kyiv at present, as a result of Ukraine is Europe," von der Leyen said on X.
"On this battle for survival, it’s not solely the future of Ukraine that’s at stake. It’s Europe’s future."
13 leaders are anticipated to hitch the summit in individual, and 24 would be part of the occasion on-line, President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed at a press convention on Feb. 23.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, and Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal arrived quickly after Costa and von der Leyen.
Different leaders, together with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, Icelandic Prime Minister, Kristrun Frostadottir, and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson are additionally within the capital, Suspilne reported.
Boris Johnson, the previous U.Okay. prime minister, additionally introduced his arrival.
"I’m proud to be right here in Kyiv on the third anniversary of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s invasion. I salute the persevering with heroism of the Ukrainian individuals in resisting a vile act of unprovoked aggression and I categorically reject the weird untruths at the moment being peddled concerning the origins of that battle," Johnson said on X.
The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek
Round 165,000 Russian troops killed in Ukraine, media studies
Round 165,000 Russian troops have been killed for the reason that launch of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in accordance with a report by Meduza and Mediazona, impartial Russian media shops, on Feb. 24.
Utilizing open-source analysis and statistical evaluation, the report means that Russian losses have elevated annually.
In 2022, roughly 20,000 Russian soldiers had been killed. That quantity greater than doubled in 2023, reaching between 47,000 and 53,000, and surged to just about 100,000 in 2024.
The evaluation doesn’t account for international fighters or conscripts from occupied Ukrainian territories, whom Russia forcibly recruits to replenish its forces. The estimate relies on evaluating roll name lists of the deceased with Russia's Register of Inheritance Circumstances.
Russia's complete losses — together with killed, wounded, lacking, and captured personnel — are considerably larger, with Ukraine's Basic Workers reported on Feb. 24 of 868,230 such circumstances.
President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on Feb. 15 that Moscow had misplaced round 250,000 troopers, with 20,000 killed in battles for Russia's Kursk Oblast alone. Over 610,000 Russian troops have been wounded for the reason that invasion started, in accordance with Zelensky.
Kyiv launched a cross-border incursion into Kursk in August 2024, initially seizing about 1,300 sq. kilometers (500 sq. miles) of Russian territory.
As much as 12,000 North Korean troopers had been deployed to Kursk Oblast final fall to help Russian forces after they didn’t push out Ukrainian troops.
The rising casualties have fueled a surge in lacking individuals circumstances in Russia, with courts handling 20,000 such claims in 2024 — two-and-a-half occasions the pre-war annual common, Mediazona reported on Feb. 4.
The Kyiv IndependentAntonina Andriichuk
Ukrainian drones reportedly strike Russian refinery in Ryazan Oblast for third time in 2025
Drones operated by Ukraine's Unmanned Techniques Forces struck an oil refinery in Russia's Ryazan Oblast, the Basic Workers of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Feb. 24.
Kyiv considers oil refineries to be legitimate navy targets, as earnings from the fossil gas business fund Russia's battle machine.
That is the third time for the reason that starting of 2025 that drones have attacked the Ryazan Oil Refinery, in accordance with the impartial Telegram channel Astra. The Ryazan Oil Refining Firm's facility was beforehand struck in a single day on Jan. 24 and Jan. 26.
At the least 5 explosions had been heard close to the power. In line with preliminary information from the General Staff, the assault triggered a fireplace close to the first oil processing facility. The total penalties of the assault are nonetheless being decided, in accordance with the assertion.
Ryazan Oblast Governor Pavel Malkov confirmed that falling drone particles had triggered a fireplace at "one of many enterprises" within the area. In line with Malkov, nobody was injured.
Ryazan lies nearly 500 kilometers (310 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border.
The Ryazan Oil Refinery is one in every of Russia's 5 largest oil refining amenities, in accordance with Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Heart for Countering Disinformation. Its capability is 17.1 million metric tons of oil per yr.
Kovalenko added that the gas produced on the enterprise is utilized by the Russian military's strategic long-range aviation, which launches missile strikes in opposition to Ukraine.
The Kyiv Impartial couldn’t confirm the claims.
The Ryazan Oil Refinery beforehand suspended operations as a consequence of injury from Ukrainian drone assaults, Reuters reported on Jan. 27, citing two business sources. Ukraine confirmed hitting the plant in an in a single day drone strike on Jan. 24.
The Kyiv IndependentYana Prots
Moscow open to ceasefire solely when talks yield outcomes that 'go well with Russia,' Lavrov says
Russia will conform to a ceasefire in Ukraine solely as soon as negotiations present a "sustainable consequence" that "fits" the Russian management, Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov mentioned on Feb. 24, Russian state-controlled information company RIA Novosti reported.
Lavrov's feedback come because the White Home mentioned a peace take care of Russia could possibly be hashed out this week. U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified diplomatic outreach to Russia, saying a second round of talks in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 25.
"The president (Vladimir Putin) has clearly mentioned that we’re prepared to barter with Ukraine, with Europe, and with any representatives who, in a spirit of goodwill, wish to assist obtain peace," Lavrov claimed.
"However we’ll stop hostilities solely when these negotiations produce a agency, sustainable consequence that fits the Russian Federation. In fact, the realities on the bottom have to be thought-about," Lavrov added.
Lavrov added that consultations with U.S. officers on the reopening of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and the Russian Embassy in Washington are scheduled for this week.
Preparations are additionally underway for a meeting between Trump and Putin, Russia's Deputy Overseas Minister Sergei Ryabkov mentioned on Feb. 22. Trump beforehand mentioned he would "in all probability" meet Putin earlier than the top of February.
The U.S. held the first round of talks instantly with Russia on Feb. 18, excluding Ukraine from the assembly. The choice sparked a backlash in Europe and Ukraine, with European leaders fearful they had been being sidelined by the U.S.
The Kyiv IndependentOlga Rudenko
Zelensky despatched Trump checklist of all 'ceasefires' violated by Russia
President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned on Feb. 24 he had offered U.S. President Donald Trump with a listing of all ceasefires violated by Russia, warning in opposition to a fast peace deal with out clear safety ensures.
"Peace can’t be concluded in an hour, a day, at present, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow," Zelensky mentioned in an handle to world leaders on the Assist Ukraine summit in Kyiv.
"When Basic (Keith) Kellogg was in Kyiv, I handed him and the U.S. president a doc with all of the ceasefires, together with particular dates, that Russia had violated."
In line with Ukraine's president, Russia has violated 25 ceasefires for the reason that begin of its aggression in 2014.
Zelensky's feedback come amid rising considerations that Trump is searching for to sideline Ukraine and Europe in potential peace negotiations to chop a take care of Russia.
U.S. and Russian delegates held talks in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18 with out Ukraine's participation, with a follow-up assembly scheduled for Feb. 25. Whereas no particular plans for a peace deal had been introduced, Trump's diplomatic outreach to Moscow comes hand-in-hand along with his more and more hostile rhetoric towards Ukraine and Zelensky.
The U.S. president has lambasted Zelensky as a "dictator without elections," echoing Russian propaganda narratives concerning the latter's legitimacy. Trump's aides have additionally been pushing Kyiv to signal a deal on Ukraine's pure assets, which Zelensky mentioned offers no safety ensures in return.
Ukrainian officers have repeatedly warned {that a} swift ceasefire deal with out robust safety ensures, reminiscent of continued navy help or NATO membership, would give Russia time to regain energy and resume its aggression at a later date.
"Subsequently, peace have to be primarily based on balanced diplomacy and clear safety ensures," Zelensky mentioned on the summit.
The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek
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