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 least 4 individuals had 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 girl was killed immediately by an assault on the automobile she was travelling in. Three males had been later killed in an analogous assault.
- Extra Ukrainian drone assaults later injured one particular person and broken 12 homes in Russia’s Krasnodar area, mentioned Governor Veniamin Kondratyev.
- Moscow’s Ministry of Defence mentioned 9 Ukrainian drones had 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 had been shot down. An additional 46 failed to succeed in their targets, the air pressure mentioned.
- At the least one particular person was injured, and a important 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 had 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 no less than 100,000 individuals had been with out energy.
- In keeping with 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 town. “A lot of counterattacks by Ukrainian forces have had some success,” he mentioned, including that they may “already discuss in regards to 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 International Affairs over an analogous incident.
Politics and diplomacy
- Zelenskyy mentioned he had instructed his ministers to not signal an settlement with the USA to produce uncommon earth minerals in alternate for earlier and future US assist. He advised The Related Press information company that the settlement didn’t shield Ukraine’s pursuits.
- White Home Nationwide Safety Council spokesperson Brian Hughes, with out confirming the supply made to Kyiv, mentioned Zelenskyy was being “short-sighted” in regards to the matter and {that a} minerals deal would permit US taxpayers to “recoup” earlier assist whereas additionally rising Ukraine’s financial system.
- Zelenskyy warned that Russia would “wage struggle” on NATO ought to US President Donald Trump cut back help 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. In keeping with the information company, the demarche had six factors and questions asking which international locations would contribute to the ensures and which allies could be keen 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 International Minister Sergey Lavrov relating to what he described because the troublesome working circumstances of the US Embassy in Moscow.
- Rubio additionally mentioned the method in direction of peace couldn’t be accomplished with only one assembly and that it will 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. In keeping with the minister, the delegation would deal with 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 cellphone 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 help any peace course of that helps the demilitarisation of Ukraine. “Ukraine should stay a democratic, sovereign nation – no choices might be remodeled their heads,” he mentioned.
- Trump mentioned he may meet with Putin “very quickly” to debate Russia’s struggle on Ukraine. He additionally mentioned he believes the Russian and Ukrainian presidents wish to see an finish to preventing.
- Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that the US and Russia would maintain talks in Saudi Arabia over the struggle 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 grew to become obligatory to guard his nation and Europe’s safety.
