Ukraine Russia War News Today

Zelensky on security guarantees: “Fifteen years of the US proposal, we want more”

“Today”, on security guarantees, “we have a proposal from the United States for 15 years. However, we would like to have more than 20 years, 30, 50. We will see what the Administration and Congress are willing to accept”. Zelensky said this on the sidelines of the Munich Conference, as reported Ukrainska Pravda. “We had a meeting with investors and entrepreneurs – he added – and they need guarantees that will last for more than five, ten years”.

Zelensky: “I will meet Rubio and tonight I will speak with Witkoff and Kushner”

Zelensky held a press conference on the sidelines of the Munich Conference, reporting that he will meet the US Secretary of State today Marco Rubio and hold a phone call with US envoys Steve Witkoff e Jared Kushner later tonight. The Guardian reports it. The Ukrainian president stressed that his chief negotiator and former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov speaks with US envoys “several times a day”, stressing the importance of interacting with the United States through all possible channels to ensure that no one can say that the Ukrainians are slowing down the talks.

Moscow: “The statements about Navalny are just insinuations”

“When there are test results, when there are formulas for substances, there will be a comment. Without this, all speeches and statements will only be an informational insinuation aimed at diverting attention from the urgent problems of the West.” Thus the spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharovacommented on the statement with which five European countries accused the Russian government of killing their opponent Alexey Navalny with a toxin derived from a frog that lives in South America. This was reported by Tass.

Zelensky: “Putin wants to poison me too? I don’t think about it”

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskytold reporters that he “didn’t think” about the possibility that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putinwant to poison him like Alexei Navalny. “I can’t think about Vladimir Putin and his plans to poison me, if he has any,” Zelensky said on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, “I try not to think about it, otherwise I would only think about that.”

Zelensky: “Surprised by the change of Russian negotiator”

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskysaid he was “surprised” by Russia’s decision to change negotiators for the third round of negotiations in Geneva. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky said it could be a move aimed at “delaying decisions.” “I am counting on the Americans to continue negotiations and not allow themselves to be forced by Russia to reopen issues that have already been resolved”, added the Kiev leader.

Polish Minister Sikorsky: “We pay for Kiev, the Americans don’t”

“Now we are the ones who pay for Ukraine. The Americans have no longer paid anything. There are no congressional packages even in prospect. And therefore we deserve a place at the negotiating table.” The Polish Foreign Minister said so Radoslaw Sikorskyspeaking at a panel in Munich with the Ukrainian and German foreign ministers.

Lithuanian President Nauseda: “If Russia attacks, Lithuanians will be as brave as Ukrainians”

“Brave people live not only in Ukraine, but also in Lithuania. If there were an aggression here, we would make the invader’s life as difficult as possible. And then we work on a wall of deterrence, we have a NATO brigade for this.” This is what the Lithuanian president replied Nauseda Gypsies in Munich, to a question about how the country would react in the event of a Russian attack. The Lithuanian leader stressed that he obviously expects the application of Article 5 of the Alliance.

Zelensky: “Let’s not give Russia the hope of getting away with it”

“We can stand up to Russia,” said the Ukrainian president, who criticized officials and politicians who he believes are now trying to shift blame for failing to act to prevent war. Zelensky then cited the example of the Ukrainian athlete Cortino disqualified at the Milan Olympics for wearing a helmet with the faces of Ukrainian athletes killed in the conflict. The president reiterated that Russia “must not be given any hope of getting away with this crime.” “The stronger we are, the more realistic peace becomes,” the Ukrainian president added, underlining how Russia was more willing to negotiate peace when it was deeply affected by attacks by Ukrainian forces.

The Ukrainian president: “Trump’s pressure? I feel it a little”

“A bit'”. This is how Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded, after a short pause, to Christiane Amanpour who asked him if he felt pressure from American President Donald Trump to end the war with Russia. “But I understand the American president,” Zelensky added.

Zelensky: “Moscow will use small countries against Kiev’s membership”

If the EU does not demonstrate a clear commitment to Ukraine’s membership, Russia will do everything to undermine the accession process “with its own hands or with the hands of some not so big country”, Zelensky said, referring to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Metsola: “90 billion loan to Kiev approved at unprecedented speed”

The European Union’s €90 billion loan to Ukraine was approved “at unprecedented speed.” This was underlined by Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, during the panel moderated by journalist Christiane Amanpour. Highlighting “the extraordinary levels of solidarity” shown for Kiev, Metsola added that Europe “continues to work” to support Ukraine, including the 20th package of sanctions against Moscow. The President of the European Parliament reiterated her support for Kiev’s accession to the EU.

Zelensky: “Serious mistake to exclude Europe from the negotiating table”

Excluding Europe from the peace negotiating table for Ukraine is “a serious mistake”, Zelensky said during his speech at the Munich Security Conference. Zelensky noted that Russians “often talk about some Anchorage spirit, and we can only guess what they really mean,” referring to the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska, while “Americans often return to discussing concessions, too often in the context of Ukraine and not Russia.” “Europe is practically absent at the negotiating table, and instead it should be there. It is a serious mistake,” he underlined.

Zelensky: “Give us two months of respite and we will hold elections”

If “Ukraine is given two months of ceasefire, then we will hold elections.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared this in his speech at the Munich Security Conference, underlining that “if the US needs Ukraine to go to elections, Trump can get it”. “With a ceasefire, Russia could also go to elections,” Zelensky later joked.

Zelensky shows map with Russian attacks on Ukraine

Saying he wants to push leaders to “ask themselves” whether “they are ready not only for the challenges that Russian aggression brings with it, the challenges of modern warfare, but also for the constant effort to get the world to fight for support to defend the interests of your country every single day, as Ukraine has to do,” Volodymyr Zelensky showed at the Munich Security Conference maps on Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine, including some that occurred during his stay in Munich.

Ukrainian president: “Not even a power plant was spared from Russian attacks”

“Most of the Russian attacks target our power plants and other critical infrastructure. And there is not a single power plant left in Ukraine that has not been damaged by Russian attacks, not even one.” The Ukrainian president said so Volodymyr Zelensky at the Security Conference.

Zelensky: “Thanks to allies who help us defend ourselves and save lives”

“I want to thank all those who are close to us with concrete actions, such as Germany and our European friends. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte begins and ends every speech by asking for support for the Purl (the mechanism for the purchase of arms and ammunition for Ukraine). The Purl exists thanks to Europe, which is paying to guarantee our ability to carry out ballistic attacks. These systems help us save our lives”. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this during his speech at the Munich Security Conference. “It is the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people that makes the difference. For this, Ukrainians deserve gratitude and respect,” he added.

Rubio: “Russia loses up to 8,000 soldiers a week in Ukraine”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio gave an interview to Bloomberg News after speaking at the Munich Security Conference, cited by Cnnin which he said the United States would not shirk its obligation to end the war in Ukraine and added that he did not believe Russia could achieve its initial goals at the start of the war nearly four years ago. Rubio also believes that Russia is losing 7,000-8,000 troops a week in the conflict, an opinion that agrees with Ukraine’s latest estimate.

Munich, Zelensky on the stage: standing ovation from the audience

A standing ovation and long applause greeted the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, as he took the stage to speak at the Munich Security Conference. Zelensky thanked the US and Europe for their support of his country and its people at war. The Ukrainian president mentioned in particular the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, and the contribution of the old continent to Ukraine’s air defense. The thanks were greeted with another thunderous applause.

Tajani: “Europe must speak with a single voice”

Europe must “speak with one voice” on Ukraine. This was underlined by the Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, on the sidelines of the work of the Munich Security Conference. “Yesterday we were all together talking to Zelensky, also because the sanctions, this is the key point, were inflicted by the entire European Union and not by a single country”, said Tajani, “just as we have never spoken alone with the United States, but always favoring dialogue with the European Union, all in the interest of the European Union, in perfect harmony with the European Union. Thanks to Italian work, relations between Washington and Brussels have been mended”.

Starmer: “We must respond to the Russian threat”

“NATO has warned that Russia could be ready to use military force against the alliance by the end of this decade. In the event of a peace deal in Ukraine, which we are all working hard for, Russia’s rearmament would only accelerate. The wider danger for Europe would not end there. It would increase. So we must respond to this threat.” The British Prime Minister said so Keir Starmer speaking at the Munich Security Conference.

Wang Yi: “We hope for a resolution to the war, the EU should be involved”

China hopes for the resolution of the war in Ukraine and Europe should be involved. This was stated by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, speaking about Ukraine at the Munich Security Conference. China believes that “we need to find a political solution,” but China is not directly involved, Wang said, adding that talks need to continue. “We want to see a cessation of hostilities” as soon as possible, he added. For Wang, Europe should be directly involved in the talks and not be sidelined in the process.

Zelensky will see Rubio, Starmer and Rutte in Munich

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will hold meetings with US officials, the Secretary General of NATO and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in Munich, as well as making several public speeches. His spokesman, Serhii Nykyforov, announced it and reports it Ukrainska Pravda. The program will begin with talks between Zelensky and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Bayerischer Hof hotel, venue of the Munich Security Conference. Two official meetings on the US front are scheduled during the day: in the morning with a bipartisan group of US senators and later with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who leads the American delegation. A conversation with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is also scheduled.

Russian drone over Odessa, woman killed

A woman has been killed following a Russian drone attack on the port city of Odessa in southern Ukraine. This was reported by the head of the Odessa military administration, Oleg Kiper, adding that this attack damaged the roof of a residential building. “Unfortunately a woman died in the attack,” he added Telegram. In the Zaporizhia region, however, the head of the regional military administration, Ivan Fedorov, reported one dead and three injured in the attacks that occurred in the last 24 hours in the regional capital and in the city of Pologuy.

Talks on Ukraine and Iran on Tuesday in Geneva

Two rounds of diplomatic negotiations will be held in Geneva on Tuesday, on Ukraine and Iran. Reuters writes this, citing a source informed on the matter.
A US delegation, consisting of envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will meet the Iranians on Tuesday morning, according to the source. Representatives from Oman, who mediate contacts between the United States and Iran, will also be present. Witkoff and Kushner will then participate in trilateral talks with representatives of Russia and Ukraine in the afternoon.

Russian drone attacks on various regions, explosions also in Kiev: people in shelters

Russia is attacking some regions of Ukraine with drones. Air raid sirens were activated in Kiev and several other regions, Ukrainian media reported, citing the Ukrainian Air Force. Several groups of drones were spotted in the skies of Kiev and the surrounding region, while others also headed towards the Zhytomyr, Chernihiv, Odessa, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Explosions have already been heard in the capital and air defenses are in operation, said Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko as reported by RBC-Ukraine. “Explosions in the capital. Air defense forces are at work. Stay in shelters,” Klitschko wrote on his Telegram channel.

Media: quarantine abolished for meetings with Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stopped requiring people he meets with to comply with preventive quarantine. The Faridaily newsletter reports it, citing four sources familiar with the Kremlin protocol. Quarantine measures were introduced in the Kremlin in 2020, due to the Covid pandemic, and the Federal Protective Service – which deals with the president’s security – was tasked with enforcing them. Putin, known for his almost paranoid attitude towards his own health, was the only world leader to maintain a strict quarantine regime for so long. Because of this, officials, heads of state-owned companies and billionaires who intended to meet the president were forced to spend several days and even weeks in specially designated isolation facilities.
When Putin still hosted world leaders in the Kremlin, such as French President Emmanuel Macron, and pre-quarantine was not possible, the Russian head of state held talks around a long table, which allowed him to stay at a safe distance from his interlocutors.