US president Donald Trump reversed course and said Russia did invade Ukraine after facing backlash for previously claiming that Kyiv "should have never started" the war three years ago.
"Russia attacked, but they shouldn't have let him attack," Mr Trump told Fox News, adding that Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky and then-US president Joe Biden should have taken steps to avert the invasion.
Mr Trump later said Ukraine had no cards to play with as Washington pursues talks on ending the war with Russia. “I've been watching for years, and I've been watching him negotiate with no cards. He has no cards. And you get sick of it. You just get sick of it. And I've had it,” the president said.
Mr Trump added: “He's [Zelensky] been at a meeting for three years, and nothing got done. So, I don't think it's very important to be at meetings, to be honest with you. He makes it very hard to make deals.”
Mr Trump also predicted a minerals agreement would be reached soon and "hopefully in the next fairly short period of time".
Mr Zelensky said separately yesterday that Ukrainian and US teams were working on a draft agreement.
Key Points
- Trump reveals US is close to signing minerals deal with Ukraine
- Donald Trump acknowledges Russia invaded Ukraine
- Trump: Ukraine has no cards to play with
- Donald Trump’s envoy praises ‘courageous leader’ Zelensky
- White House says Trump ‘very frustrated’ with Zelensky after ‘dictator’ jibe
Donald Trump acknowledges Russia invaded Ukraine
04:26
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
President Donald Trump reversed course yesterday and said Russia did in fact invade Ukraine after facing backlash for saying that Ukraine "should have never started" the war three years ago.
"Russia attacked, but they shouldn't have let him attack," Mr Trump said, adding that Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky and then-US president Joe Biden should have taken steps to avert the invasion.
Later, Mr Trump predicted a minerals agreement would be reached soon.
"We're signing an agreement, hopefully in the next fairly short period of time," Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about a possible deal for Ukraine's minerals.
Mr Zelensky said separately yesterday that Ukrainian and US teams were working on a draft agreement. "I am hoping for ... a fair result," he said in a video address after sharp exchanges this week between the two leaders.
US could cut Ukraine's access to Starlink internet services - report
04:15
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US negotiators pressing Kyiv for access to Ukraine's critical minerals have reportedly raised the possibility of cutting the country's access to Elon Musk's vital Starlink satellite internet system.
Ukraine's continued access to SpaceX-owned Starlink was brought up in discussions between US and Ukrainian officials after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky turned down an initial proposal from US treasury secretary Scott Bessent, Reuters reported citing three sources.
Starlink provides crucial internet connectivity to war-torn Ukraine and its military. "Ukraine runs on Starlink. They consider it their North Star," said the source. "Losing Starlink ... would be a massive blow."
Mr Zelensky has rejected demands from president Donald Trump's administration for $500bn in mineral wealth from Ukraine to repay Washington for wartime aid, saying the US has offered no specific security guarantees.
Editorial | Why The Independent will not be silent in the face of Trump’s assault on truth and democracy
04:00
,
Independent Staff
It is time to make a stand. Mr Trump is wrong, and the world must say so. He is taking the United States down a disastrous path, favouring the dictator of Russia over the elected leader of the Ukrainian people.
Worse, he is favouring Putin’s gangster state over the democracies of a free Europe. He is standing alongside murder and tyranny against democracy and liberty. His is an historic inversion of America’s destiny.
The Independent will not stay silent in the face of Mr Trump’s dangerous and twisted assault on truth and democracy.
Read Friday’s editorial in full here:
What is ATACMS? The US missiles being used inside Russia
03:24
,
Jabed Ahmed
There are several variants of Army Tactical Missile Systems, a long-range missile system that often carries varying amounts of cluster bomblets.
Ukrainian forces used the US-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles for the first time in October 2023, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy saying the weapons had "proven themselves."
Ukraine likely has what are known as M39A1 Block IA ATACMS that are guided in part by Global Positioning System and have a range of 40 to 190 miles. They can carry a payload of 300 bomblets. The M39 Block IA were used in Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to Army documents, and were added to the US arsenal in 1997.
US envoy praises Zelensky after Trump's salvo
03:18
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
President Donald Trump's envoy to Ukraine and Russia said that he held "extensive and positive discussions" with Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky about the three-year war with Russia and praised the Ukrainian leader.
Retired US Lt Gen Keith Kellogg struck a positive tone after what he said on the social platform X was "a long and intense day" of talks with Ukraine's senior leadership. He called Zelensky an "embattled and courageous leader of a nation at war.
"His comments marked a departure from recent rebukes of Mr Zelensky by president Trump and other senior US officials that appeared to indicate an abrupt deterioration of relations.
Mr Trump called Mr Zelensky "a dictator without elections" and warned him that he'd " better move fast " to negotiate an end to the war or risk not having a nation to lead.
Ukrainian officials seek to ease tensions after Trump's vitriolic tirade
03:00
,
Andy Gregory
There were several apparent attempts on Friday to ease tensions which erupted between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky this week, with the US president falsely labelling his counterpart a “dictator”.
Mr Zelensky had already struck a conciliatory tone on Thursday in saying that he was ready to do a deal with Mr Trump, following a meeting with US envoy Keith Kellogg which he said “restored hope”.
Mr Kellogg finally responded on Friday by hailing Mr Zelensky as “the embattled and courageous leader of a nation at war”, in an apparent riposte to Mr Trump’s falsehood-laden rants as Mr Zelensky as the dictatorial leader of a country which shouldered the blame for Russia’s invasion.
In a further development on Friday, the Ukrainian president’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak said he had discussed “aligning positions” in bilateral relations in a call with White House national security advisor Mike Waltz.
Mr Yermak “stressed the importance of maintaining bilateral cooperation and a high level of relations between Ukraine and the United States”, the president's office said.
US offers UN resolution on Ukraine war
03:00
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The US has proposed a draft UN resolution that stops far short of a competing European-backed statement demanding an immediate withdrawal of all of Moscow's forces from Ukraine.
Both are timed to the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which falls on Monday, when the UN General Assembly will vote on the non-binding resolutions.
It sets up a clash between the US and Europe as the strength of the transatlantic alliance has been called into question over the Trump administration's extraordinary turnaround on Russia, opening negotiations with Moscow after years of isolation as the US looks to broker a rapid end to the war.
European leaders were dismayed that their officials and those from Ukraine were not invited to preliminary US-Russia talks last week in Saudi Arabia.
The very short US draft resolution offers mourning for "the tragic loss of life throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict" and "implores a swift end to the conflict and further urges a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia."Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told UN reporters about the US resolution: "It's a good move."
Challenges for the Russian economy in 2025
02:26
,
Jabed Ahmed
The Russian economy has shown resilience during the three years of war in Ukraine and Western sanctions. However, as the war approaches its fourth year, the economy faces major challenges with key economic policymakers at odds on how to address them.
Below are the key challenges for the Russian economy in 2025:
Inflation
- Russian annual inflation reached 9.5% in 2024, driven by high military and national security spending, which is set to account for 41% of total state budget spending in 2025, state subsidies on loans, and spiralling wage growth amid labour shortages.
- Inflation tops the list of economic woes in public opinion polls, with prices for staple foods such as butter, eggs, and vegetables showing double-digit growth last year.
Economic slowdown
- The government projects that economic growth rates will slow to 2.5% in 2025 from around 4% in 2024 as a result of measures to cool down the overheated economy, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects growth at 1.4% this year.
- The pro-government economic think tank TsMAKP estimated that many industrial sectors outside defence have been stagnating since 2023, raising prospects of stagflation, a combination of high inflation and economic stagnation.
Budget deficit
- Russia's budget deficit reached 1.7% of GDP in 2024, while the country's National Wealth Fund, the main source of financing the deficit, has been depleted by two-thirds during three years of war.
- The government raised taxes to bring the deficit down to 0.5% of GDP in 2025, but its revenues could also fall due to the latest U.S. energy sanctions, which targeted Russia's oil and gas sector.
Chernobyl expert warns nuclear disaster in Ukraine ‘only matter of time’
02:00
,
Andy Gregory
Nuclear disaster in Ukraine is only a “matter of time” as long as the international community fails to take tougher action against Russian recklessness, an expert has warned.
“We’re getting closer and closer to possible disaster as attacks now continue on Chernobyl, and the war is going on in the vicinity of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,” says historian Serhii Plokhy, who tells the story of the occupation of Chernboyl in his 2024 book Chernobyl Roulette.
My colleague Alex Croft reports:
What is Russia’s strategic partnership with North Korea?
01:27
,
Jabed Ahmed
Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership" pact in Pyongyang on 19 June, 2024, including a mutual defence clause in case of aggression against either country.
Kim expressed "unconditional support" for "all of Russia's policies", including "a full support and firm alliance" for Russia's war in Ukraine. Putin has said Russia would help North Korea build satellites.
The US and South Korea say North Korea has shipped ballistic missiles, anti-tank rockets and millions of rounds of ammunition for Russia to use in the war. Moscow and Pyongyang have denied weapons transfers.
Ukraine, South Korea and the US say Kim has sent more than 11,000 troops to fight for Russia in its western Kursk region, part of which has been held by Ukraine since August. Ukraine says many North Korean soldiers have been killed and wounded. Moscow has never confirmed or denied their presence.
Sam Kiley: Delusional of Trump to say Ukraine led by authoritarian regime
01:00
,
Andy Gregory
US proposes rival UN action on Ukraine, pitting it against Europe
00:26
,
Jabed Ahmed
The United States has proposed a draft United Nations resolution to mark the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a move that pits Washington against an effort by Kyiv and European allies to have their own text adopted by the General Assembly.
The move follows the launch of U.S. President Donald Trump's bid to broker an end to the war in Ukraine, which has sparked a rift with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and raised concerns among European allies that Kyiv and Europe could be cut out of any peace talks.
The brief three-paragraph U.S. draft resolution, seen by Reuters, mourns the loss of life during the "Russia-Ukraine conflict" and reiterates "that the principal purpose of the United Nations is to maintain international peace and security and to peacefully settle disputes."
It also "implores a swift end to the conflict and further urges a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia." It was not immediately clear when Washington hoped to put the draft resolution to a vote.
The 193-member General Assembly is already set to meet on Monday to vote on the text drafted by Ukraine and the European Union, which calls for de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities and peaceful resolution in line with the founding U.N. Charter and international law.
Ukraine and the EU have been negotiating with U.N. member states for the past month. General Assembly resolutions are not binding but carry political weight, reflecting a global view on the war. No country holds a veto in the assembly.
The Ukrainian and EU text, seen by Reuters, "reiterates the urgent need to end the war this year, and to redouble diplomatic efforts to reduce the risks of further escalation and achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine."
The language in that resolution appears slightly toned down from previous action by the General Assembly. It takes a less direct approach in its criticism of Russia by simply referencing "the aggression."
UK ‘massively vulnerable’ to threat of Russia after decades of military cuts, ex-Army chief warns
00:01
,
Andy Gregory
Decades of Army cuts have left the UK “massively vulnerable” to Russian aggression, the former head of the British armed forces has said.
With Sir Keir Starmer under mounting pressure to boost the UK’s defence budget, General Sir Nick Carter said the Army had suffered a “process of neglect” over the last 30 years.
Gen Sir Nick, who served as chief of the defence staff between 2018 and 2021, warned the Army was “remarkably hollow” and would be unable to fend off an “onslaught” of Russian drones and missiles like those Ukraine has been subjected to.
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Drone attack kills one outside Kyiv, drone fragments fall in the city
Friday 21 February 2025 23:52
,
Jabed Ahmed
A Russian drone attack killed a rail worker at a crossing outside Kyiv and falling drone fragments struck a building inside the capital, local authorities said.
Kyiv region officials said the rail worker was killed in Boryspil district, east of the city. The strike triggered a fire in a storage area and shattered windows in a multi-storey apartment building and an educational institution.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said drone fragments fell on private residences in the Solomyanskyi district in the west of the city, triggering a fire that was quickly extinguished and smashing windows in a nearby building. There were no casualties.
Air raid alerts were in effect in Kyiv for about three hours.
In southern Zaporizhzhia region, Russian forces attacked the town of Huliaipole with a guided bomb, injuring three people, the regional governor said. One person died on Thursday in a attack on a village west of Huliaipole.
Ukrainian foreign minister speaks to US secretary of state about 'just' peace
Friday 21 February 2025 23:09
,
Jabed Ahmed
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said he had spoken to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about "results-oriented Ukraine-US dialogue" and achieving a just settlement to the nearly three-year-old war with Russia.
"I spoke with @SecRubio to continue the results-oriented Ukraine-U.S. dialogue," Sybiha wrote on social media platform X.
"Ahead of the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale aggression, I underscored Ukraine's strong will to achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace—one that will strengthen Ukraine and the U.S."
Ukraine must be part of peace talks, Scholz and Zelensky agree in phone call
Friday 21 February 2025 23:01
,
Andy Gregory
German chancellor Olaf Scholz and Volodymyr Zelenskyy have spoken on the phone, the German government said in a statement on Friday.
The leaders agreed that Ukraine must have seat at the table in future peace talks, the statement said.
Polish foreign minister says he believes US wants lasting peace in Ukraine
Friday 21 February 2025 22:02
,
Jabed Ahmed
Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told reporters after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that he had the impression Washington wants to find a lasting peace in Ukraine.
Pressure grows for Starmer to boost defence spending ahead of Trump showdown
Friday 21 February 2025 22:00
,
Andy Gregory
Sir Keir Starmer is under mounting pressure to boost defence spending ahead of a crucial showdown with Donald Trump over Ukraine.
Sir Ed Davey has piled pressure on the PM, becoming the latest political leader to call for Sir Keir to hike spending as soon as possible to the 2.5 per cent mark, joining Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage in supporting a boost.
The prime minister now travels to Washington next week as the only major UK party leader who has not backed calls to hike the defence budget to 2.5 per cent of Britain’s GDP by 2030.
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Trump reveals US is close to signing minerals deal with Ukraine
Friday 21 February 2025 21:25
,
Tara Cobham
Donald Trump has revealed the US is close to signing a minerals deal with Ukraine.
"We're signing an agreement, hopefully in the next fairly short period of time," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about a deal for Ukraine's minerals.
Zelenskiy said separately that Ukrainian and US teams were working on a draft agreement. "I am hoping for ... a fair result," he said in a video address on Friday after sharp exchanges between the two leaders.
Trump calls for Putin and Zelensky to work together as he insists Russia wants a deal
Friday 21 February 2025 21:22
Donald Trump has called for Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky to work together as the US president insisted Russia wants to agree a peace deal.
Trump added that he will not be going to Moscow on 9 May.
Watch: Putin shares details of US-led peace talks, says Ukraine won't be excluded
Friday 21 February 2025 21:00
,
Andy Gregory
US proposes rival UN action on Ukraine, pitting it against Europe
Friday 21 February 2025 20:55
,
Jabed Ahmed
The United States has proposed a draft United Nations resolution to mark the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a move that pits Washington against an effort by Kyiv and European allies to have their own text adopted by the General Assembly.
The move follows the launch of U.S. President Donald Trump's bid to broker an end to the war in Ukraine, which has sparked a rift with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and raised concerns among European allies that Kyiv and Europe could be cut out of any peace talks.
The brief three-paragraph U.S. draft resolution, seen by Reuters, mourns the loss of life during the "Russia-Ukraine conflict" and reiterates "that the principal purpose of the United Nations is to maintain international peace and security and to peacefully settle disputes."
It also "implores a swift end to the conflict and further urges a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia." It was not immediately clear when Washington hoped to put the draft resolution to a vote.
The 193-member General Assembly is already set to meet on Monday to vote on the text drafted by Ukraine and the European Union, which calls for de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities and peaceful resolution in line with the founding U.N. Charter and international law.
Ukraine and the EU have been negotiating with U.N. member states for the past month. General Assembly resolutions are not binding but carry political weight, reflecting a global view on the war. No country holds a veto in the assembly.
The Ukrainian and EU text, seen by Reuters, "reiterates the urgent need to end the war this year, and to redouble diplomatic efforts to reduce the risks of further escalation and achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine."
The language in that resolution appears slightly toned down from previous action by the General Assembly. It takes a less direct approach in its criticism of Russia by simply referencing "the aggression."
CPAC sends a warning message to Ukraine: It’s not Reagan’s party anymore
Friday 21 February 2025 20:42
,
Jabed Ahmed
Vance hits back at claims of Trump 'appeasement' towards Putin
Friday 21 February 2025 20:18
,
Jabed Ahmed
Claims that the Trump administration's stance towards Russia is "appeasement" have been rebutted by US Vice President JD Vance.
"We are negotiating to end the conflict. It is 'appeasement' only if you think the Ukrainians have a credible pathway to victory. They don't, so it's not," he said in a post on X.
"Well, the president believes to conduct diplomacy, you actually have to speak to people. This used to be called statesmanship," he added.
Vance also said there is a false idea that the US has "given the Russians everything they want".
Russia orders divers to inspect ships in ports after tanker blasts
Friday 21 February 2025 20:00
,
Andy Gregory
Russia has ordered divers to inspect ships in its ports, Reuters has reported, citing a government letter, after suspected attacks on four oil tankers that visited in recent weeks.
At the same time the Russian navy will help protect from the threat of drones and unmanned vessels, it said.
Three oil tankers around the Mediterranean, and another in the Russian Baltic, have been damaged by blasts in the last month. All four had recently called at Russian ports, Reuters reported, citing shipping sources and ship tracking data.
Italy has launched a terrorism investigation after two explosions blew a hole below the waterline of the Greek-operated oil tanker Seajewel while it was anchored on Saturday off the southern port of Savona-Vado and discharging oil.
Russia, in a letter issued by the transport ministry and the federal agency for sea and river transport, has instructed seaports to inform shipowners that vessels will need to be inspected upon arrival, in what it calls a necessary measure for "anti-terrorist protection".
Divers and equipment will inspect ships to detect "foreign objects and explosives" below water level, according to the letter, which was dated 14 February.
Watch | Macron to Trump: 'You can't be weak in front of Putin'
Friday 21 February 2025 19:23
,
Jabed Ahmed
Starmer urged to stand up to Trump’s ‘torrent of lies’ as he accuses Britain of doing nothing to end Ukraine war
Friday 21 February 2025 18:59
,
Jabed Ahmed
Irish premier reaffirms Ireland’s support for Ukraine
Friday 21 February 2025 18:40
,
Jabed Ahmed
Ireland has reaffirmed “steadfast support for Ukraine and its people”, Irish premier Micheal Martin said following a phone call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Mr Martin is due to attend a summit next week marking the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Taoiseach said: “I had a warm engagement with President Zelensky, where I once again reaffirmed Ireland’s steadfast support for Ukraine and its people.
“We discussed how, together with the EU, we can advance a just, sustainable and durable peace in Ukraine.
“I also took the opportunity to offer my support for the acceleration of Ukraine’s membership of the EU, and to state Ireland’s continuing financial support for Ukraine.
“I look forward to joining online with other leaders for President Zelensky’s summit to discuss this further next week.”
Mike Waltz insists Ukraine will sign mineral deal — and Trump will get a Nobel Peace Prize when war’s over
Friday 21 February 2025 18:29
,
Jabed Ahmed
Why Putin’s Nazi smears on Poland and other nations spell more than a war of words
Friday 21 February 2025 17:59
,
Jabed Ahmed
Recent documents released by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) have suggested a Polish prisoner of war in Auschwitz happily did the dirty work of the camp’s guards. It is the latest worrying example of how the Russian leader is weaponising the Holocaust to destabilise and disrupt neighbouring nations, writes Guy Walters
Foreign ministers talk war in Ukraine and other conflicts on last day of G20 meeting in South Africa
Friday 21 February 2025 17:32
,
AP
Foreign ministers and senior diplomats from leading rich and developing countries focused on global conflicts, mainly on the Russia-Ukraine war, on the last day of their meeting in South Africa.
The two-day gathering in Johannesburg of the Group of 20 nations was marked by the absence of a senior US delegation.
After the gathering concluded, South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola told reporters that ongoing conflicts and wars in Africa, the Middle East and Europe are holding back economic development.
"The meeting reiterated that all states must act in a manner consistent with the peoples and principles of the U.N. charter," Lamola said, adding there was agreement to support peace efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine, The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, the conflicts in Sudan and Congo and others.
Lamola confirmed that President Ramaphosa has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a state visit. The two leaders had previously met on the sidelines of various global platforms.
Lamola openly defended Ukraine's right to have a seat at the table in any peace talks on ending the war.
"We still think that any peace negotiation process should be inclusive and that inclusiveness should then include Ukraine very clearly. And that's the approach that we will continue to take," he said.
There were vastly different claims — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in his speech Thursday that Western countries were to blame for the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Pictured | Flags fly over the graves of Russian soldiers at a cemetery in Yaroslavl
Friday 21 February 2025 17:24
,
Jabed Ahmed
Editorial | Why The Independent will not be silent in the face of Trump’s assault on truth and democracy
Friday 21 February 2025 16:59
,
Jabed Ahmed
Editorial: The US president is peddling dangerous misinformation about Zelensky and Ukraine – now is the time to tell the truth and stand up to the bully in the White House
Starmer and Macron ‘done nothing’ to end war, says Trump
Friday 21 February 2025 16:53
,
Jabed Ahmed
Donald Trump has said Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron have “done nothing” to end the war in Ukraine.
US President Trump said Mr Macron was a “good friend” and Sir Keir was a “nice guy” but added that Russia has only come to the table “because of me”.
Trump: Ukraine has no cards to play with
Friday 21 February 2025 16:43
,
Jabed Ahmed
Ukraine has no cards to play with, US President Donald Trump has said, as he pushes Kyiv to sign a critical minerals agreement while Washington pursues talks on ending Russia's war in Ukraine.
Speaking to Fox News, President Trump said: “I've been watching for years, and I've been watching him negotiate with no cards. He has no cards. And you get sick of it. You just get sick of it. And I've had it.”
Trump added: “He's been at a meeting for three years, and nothing got done. So, I don't think it's very important to be at meetings, to be honest with you. He makes it very hard to make deals.”
Trump adviser says he expects Zelensky to sign minerals agreement
Friday 21 February 2025 16:35
,
Andy Gregory
White House national security adviser Mike Waltz has said he expects Volodymyr Zelensky to sign a minerals agreement with the United States as part of efforts to end the Ukraine war.
“Here's the bottom line, President Zelensky is going to sign that deal, and you will see that in the very short term,” Mr Waltz said in an appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference on the outskirts of Washington.
Mr Zelensky has also expressed hope that a deal will be struck very soon, but criticised the Trump administration’s initial proposal to obtain $500bn-worth of Ukraine’s rare earth materials in return only for vague security guarantees as “not serious”.
Zelensky's top aide discussed 'aligning positions' with White House
Friday 21 February 2025 16:18
,
Andy Gregory
The Ukrainian president's chief of staff Andriy Yermak has discussed “aligning positions” in bilateral relations in a call with White House national security advisor Mike Waltz.
Mr Yermak “stressed the importance of maintaining bilateral cooperation and a high level of relations between Ukraine and the United States”, the president's office said.
Zelensky says talks with Trump envoy 'restore hope'
Friday 21 February 2025 14:55
,
Andy Gregory
In the wake of Trump envoy Keith Kellogg’s fresh praise of Volodymyr Zelensky as a “courageous leader”, here is what the Ukrainian president had to say about their meeting yesterday – which took place in the shadow of Trump’s “dictator” jibe and as the White House demanded that Kyiv strike a deal to hand over $500bn in rare earth minerals.
In his nightly address, Mr Zelensky said: “General Kellogg, a meeting which restores hope. We need strong agreements that will really work. I gave instructions to work fast and in a very, very even-handed fashion.
“The details of the agreement are important. The better the details are drafted, the better the result.”
Earlier, Mr Zelensky wrote on social media that Ukraine had to “ensure that peace is strong and lasting – so that Russia can never return with war”, adding: “Ukraine is ready for a strong, effective investment and security agreement with the President of the United States.
“We have proposed the fastest and most constructive way to achieve results. Our team is ready to work 24/7.”
Russia 'could concede $300bn in frozen assets under Ukraine settlement'
Friday 21 February 2025 14:36
,
Andy Gregory
Russia could agree to use $300bn of sovereign assets frozen in Europe for reconstruction in Ukraine but will insist that part of the money is spent on the one-fifth of the country that Moscow's forces control, three sources have told Reuters.
After Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022, the US and its allies prohibited transactions with Russia’s central bank and finance ministry, blocking $300bn to $350bn of sovereign Russian assets – mostly European, US and British government bonds held in a European securities depository.
While discussions between Russia and the US are at a very early stage, one idea being floated in Moscow is that Russia could propose using a large chunk of the frozen reserves for rebuilding Ukraine as part of a possible peace deal, Reuters reported.
It is reportedly unclear whether the idea of using the frozen funds was discussed between Russia and US counterparts in Saudi Arabia this week.
US envoy for Ukraine war says talks with Zelensky were 'extensive and positive'
Friday 21 February 2025 13:43
,
Tara Cobham
The US envoy for the war in Ukraine has said he has had “extensive and positive discussions” with Volodymyr Zelensky.
Writing on X today while on his visit to Kyiv, Keith Kellogg said: “A long and intense day with the senior leadership of Ukraine. Extensive and positive discussions with @ZelenskyyUa, the embattled and courageous leader of a nation at war and his talented national security team.”
A long and intense day with the senior leadership of Ukraine. Extensive and positive discussions with @ZelenskyyUa, the embattled and courageous leader of a nation at war and his talented national security team. https://t.co/kLu9roZ5z1
— Keith Kellogg (@generalkellogg) February 21, 2025
Polish president tells Zelensky to stick to cooperation with Trump
Friday 21 February 2025 13:33
Poland's President Andrzej Duda has said he told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a telephpone conversation to remain committed to cooperation with Donald Trump.
"I suggested to President Zelensky to remain committed to the course of calm and constructive cooperation with Donald Trump," Duda wrote on X today. "I have no doubt that President Trump is guided by a deep sense of responsibility for global stability and peace."
A few minutes ago, President @ZelenskyyUA called me. We had a candid conversation on the heels of the recent meetings with General Kellogg and other developments. I conveyed to him that we consistently believe there is no other way to stop the bloodshed and achieve lasting peace…
— Andrzej Duda (@AndrzejDuda) February 21, 2025
Macron could send French security force to Ukraine to 'guarantee' peace deal
Friday 21 February 2025 13:31
,
Tara Cobham
Asked about whether he's considering sending French troops to Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron said he would not send soldiers to fight in Ukraine but rather a security force meant to bring "guarantees" once a peace deal is achieved.
"We don't rule out, within a framework planned with our allies, the possibility of having forces which, once peace has been negotiated, could contribute to guaranteeing Ukraine's security," he said.
Europe must prepare for Trump to abandon Nato's Article 5, warns Germany's Merz
Friday 21 February 2025 13:03
,
Andy Gregory
The frontrunner to become Germany’s next chancellor has warned that Europe must ensure it is capable of defending itself without Washington’s help.
“We must prepare for the possibility that Donald Trump will no longer uphold Nato’s mutual defence commitment unconditionally,” Friedrich Merz told a German broadcaster, in remarks reported by Politico.
“That is why, in my view, it is crucial that Europeans make the greatest possible efforts to ensure that we are at least capable of defending the European continent on our own.”
Asked whether Germany should seek protection under France’s nuclear umbrella, Mr Merz said: “We need to have discussions with both the British and the French – the two European nuclear powers – about whether nuclear sharing, or at least nuclear security from the UK and France, could also apply to us.”
Editorial | Why The Independent will not be silent in the face of Trump’s assault on truth and democracy
Friday 21 February 2025 12:22
,
Independent Staff
It is time to make a stand. Mr Trump is wrong, and the world must say so. He is taking the United States down a disastrous path, favouring the dictator of Russia over the elected leader of the Ukrainian people.
Worse, he is favouring Putin’s gangster state over the democracies of a free Europe. He is standing alongside murder and tyranny against democracy and liberty. His is an historic inversion of America’s destiny.
The Independent will not stay silent in the face of Mr Trump’s dangerous and twisted assault on truth and democracy.
Read today’s editorial in full here:
