Fire reported at oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai following 'massive' drone attack

Fire reported at oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai following 'massive' drone attack.

A large fire reportedly erupted at the Ilsky oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Kris overnight on Feb. 17 following large-scale Ukrainian drone attacks on the region, Russian Telegram media channels reported.

Putin 'wants to stop fighting,' Trump says, dismisses Russia's territorial ambitions.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Feb. 16 that he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin "wants to stop fighting" Russia's war in Ukraine, dismissing Moscow's territorial ambitions in the embattled country.

US, Russian officials to meet on Feb. 18 in Saudi Arabia, Axios reports.

The delegation, led by State Secretary Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, is set to begin negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

Trump confirms Zelensky will take part in Ukraine peace talks as US, Russia prepare Saudi meeting.

U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed that Zelensky would have a say in the process and mentioned the possibility of allowing European nations to purchase U.S.-made weapons for Ukraine.

Starmer open to deploying British troops for Ukraine peacekeeping effort.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote on Feb. 16. that he did not take lightly the idea of placing British servicemen and women in harm’s way. "But any role in helping to guarantee Ukraine’s security is helping to guarantee the security of our continent, and the security of this country," he added.

Ukraine’s place in EU, NATO non-negotiable, Finnish president says.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Finnish President Alexander Stubb has emphasized that Ukraine’s membership in the European Union and NATO is non-negotiable, adding that these alliances are essential for ensuring the country’s sovereignty and security.

Zelensky arrives in UAE, hints at humanitarian, economic cooperation.

Zelensky's arrival in the UAE kicks off a regional tour that includes official visits to Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

'A colonial agreement' — former Ukrainian official slams US minerals deal, AP reports.

The U.S. delegates in Munich did not offer any security guarantees in exchange for Ukraine's rare earth minerals, current and former senior Ukrainian officials said.

Trump wants ceasefire in Ukraine by Easter, Bloomberg reports.

The U.S administration has told European officials that it hopes to achieve a ceasefire agreement by Easter, which falls on April 20, sources told Bloomberg.

Ukraine preparing for Zelensky to visit Saudi Arabia.

Delegations from Saudi Arabia and Ukraine met on Feb. 16 to discuss increased economic ties, ahead of a planned visit by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

One year following Navalny's death, West, Navalnaya condemn Putin's Russia.

"Russia is increasingly waging an illegal war of aggression against Ukraine while continuing its domestic repression, persecuting those who advocate for democracy," EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said.

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Ukraine war latest: US wants 50% of Ukraine's minerals, may deploy troops to guard them; Zelensky says nearly 250,000 Russian soldiers killed in war.

Ukraine, Europe must be involved in peace talks, Rubio says.

"Ukraine will have to be involved, because they're the one that were invaded, and the Europeans will have to be involved because they have sanctions on Putin and Russia as well," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

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Arrests of top commanders in Ukraine underscore political power games, army commanders and experts say

'Putin will wage war against NATO,' Zelensky tells NBC News.

Russia is training 150,000 troops in Belarus for a large-scale operation that could happen as early as this summer, Zelensky said. "There are risks that this can be Poland and Lithuania."

Russian drone strikes hit power plant in Mykolaiv Oblast, leaving over 100,000 Ukrainians without heat.

"This was done deliberately to leave people without heat in below-zero temperatures and create a humanitarian catastrophe," wrote Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

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Russian drone hits Chornobyl nuclear plant as Munich Security Conference begins | Ukraine This Week.

Europe needs 'special envoy' to take part in Ukraine peace talks, says Finnish President.

"If there is a negotiating table, I think we need to do something similar to what was done in Kosovo. Europe needs to have a special envoy," Finnish President Alexander Stubb said on Feb. 16 at the Munich Security Conference.

Zelensky's proposed European army 'will not happen,' says Polish foreign minister.

There will be no joint European Union army to counter Russian aggression and compensate any withdrawal in U.S. support, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said to local television late on Feb. 15, Reuters reported.

General Staff: Russia has lost 858,390 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,730 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

Success already 'feels possible' after start of collaboration with US officials, Zelensky says.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Feb. 15 that success “already feels possible” as his administration begins working on negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump’s team to end the war.

G7 leaders: Future sanctions hinge on Russia's 'good faith efforts' during peace talks.

The Group of Seven (G7) countries agreed to link any future tightening of sanctions against Russia to the progress of upcoming peace negotiations, after a meeting on Feb. 15.

France to host emergency summit on Ukraine as Trump administration and Russian officials set to begin peace negotiations without Europe.

European leaders are set to gather in Paris on Feb. 17 for an emergency summit over concerns that the U.S. is advancing peace talks with Russia without Europe, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski announced on Feb. 15.

US requests European countries to draft proposals outlining post-war security assurances for Ukraine, FT reports.

The U.S. has asked European countries to outline their potential security and peacekeeping contributions to Ukraine as part of any future peace negotiations with Russia, the Financial Times reported on Feb. 15, citing undisclosed sources.

Trump's call to Putin was a mistake, Polish FM says.

U.S. President Donald Trump's phone call to Russian President Vladimir Putin was a mistake, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 15.