Listed below are the important thing developments on the 1,089th day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Right here is the scenario on Monday, February 17:
Combating
- At the very least 4 individuals have been killed by Ukrainian drone strikes in two separate incidents in Russia’s Belgorod area, regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov mentioned. In a single incident, a lady was killed immediately by an assault on the automobile she was travelling in. Three males have been later killed in an analogous assault.
- Extra Ukrainian drone assaults later injured one individual and broken 12 homes in Russia’s Krasnodar area, mentioned Governor Veniamin Kondratyev.
- Moscow’s Ministry of Defence mentioned 9 Ukrainian drones have been shot down over the Sea of Azov and Russia’s southern area of Krasnodar.
- The Ukrainian navy mentioned Russia launched 143 drones in an in a single day assault, out of which 95 have been shot down. An extra 46 failed to achieve their targets, the air pressure mentioned.
- At the very least one individual was injured, and a essential infrastructure constructing caught hearth, in southern Ukraine’s Mykolaiv as a result of in a single day Russian assaults, mentioned the area’s Governor Vitaliy Kim. A number of homes in Kyiv have been additionally broken, the State Emergency Service mentioned.
- A thermal energy plant was broken within the assaults on Mykolaiv, leaving tens of 1000’s of individuals with out heating in below-freezing temperatures, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal mentioned. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned at the very least 100,000 individuals have been with out energy.
- Based on Ukraine’s navy, Russian forces intensified their assaults in jap Ukraine, primarily focusing on the logistics hub of Pokrovsk. The navy mentioned it recorded 261 clashes inside 24 hours.
- Viktor Tregubov, a spokesperson for Ukrainian troops within the Pokrovsk space, mentioned Kyiv reclaimed a mining village close to the town. “A lot of counterattacks by Ukrainian forces have had some success,” he mentioned, including that they might “already discuss concerning the liberation of the village of Pishchane”.
- Moldova mentioned two Russian drones violated the nation’s airspace once more, simply days after the Russian ambassador was summoned to the Ministry of Overseas Affairs over an analogous incident.
Politics and diplomacy
- Zelenskyy mentioned he had instructed his ministers to not signal an settlement with america to produce uncommon earth minerals in change for earlier and future US support. He instructed The Related Press information company that the settlement didn’t defend Ukraine’s pursuits.
- White Home Nationwide Safety Council spokesperson Brian Hughes, with out confirming the provide made to Kyiv, mentioned Zelenskyy was being “short-sighted” concerning the matter and {that a} minerals deal would permit US taxpayers to “recoup” earlier support whereas additionally rising Ukraine’s financial system.
- Zelenskyy warned that Russia would “wage conflict” on NATO ought to US President Donald Trump reduce assist for the navy alliance. He additionally mentioned Trump had the leverage to push Russian President Vladimir Putin into ceasefire talks, however mentioned Putin ought to by no means be trusted.
- Reuters reported that the US requested European allies what they required from Washington to take part in Ukraine’s safety preparations. Based on the information company, the demarche had six factors and questions asking which international locations would contribute to the ensures and which allies can be prepared to deploy troops to Kyiv.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned the upcoming days would decide Putin’s seriousness about peace in Ukraine, including that he spoke with Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov relating to what he described because the troublesome working situations of the US Embassy in Moscow.
- Rubio additionally mentioned the method in the direction of peace couldn’t be accomplished with only one assembly and that it might not be straightforward. Whereas talks have been scheduled between Russia and the US in Saudi Arabia, Rubio mentioned he was unsure who Moscow was sending and added “nothing has been finalised but”.
- Zelenskyy mentioned he would reject any peace settlement between the US and Russia that didn’t embrace Kyiv’s enter.
- Ukrainian First Deputy Minister of Financial Improvement, Commerce and Agriculture Yulia Svyrydenko mentioned a delegation travelled to Saudi Arabia for conferences earlier than a potential Zelenskyy go to. Based on the minister, the delegation would give attention to strengthening financial ties as Kyiv “prepares to signal essential financial agreements with international locations within the area”.
- Zelenskyy introduced that he arrived within the United Arab Emirates for talks on the repatriation of captured Ukrainians, funding and financial cooperation.
- French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned he spoke on the telephone with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to debate Saudi Arabia’s function within the Russia-Ukraine peace talks and what function Europe ought to play.
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz mentioned Europeans wouldn’t assist any peace course of that helps the demilitarisation of Ukraine. “Ukraine should stay a democratic, sovereign nation – no choices may be remodeled their heads,” he mentioned.
- Trump mentioned he might meet with Putin “very quickly” to debate Russia’s conflict on Ukraine. He additionally mentioned he believes the Russian and Ukrainian presidents need to see an finish to combating.
- Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that the US and Russia would maintain talks in Saudi Arabia over the conflict in Ukraine on Tuesday.
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer mentioned he was ready to ship troops to Kyiv and contribute to safety ensures if it turned essential to guard his nation and Europe’s safety.
