Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights
🇭🇺 Hungary seeks to block the new EU aid package for Ukraine.
The package includes at least €6 billion in military support, covering ammunition, air defense systems, and equipment for the armed forces.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that the “proposed €20 billion EU package aims to strengthen Kyiv’s position in negotiations rather than promote peace.” However, it’s unclear why he referred to such a higher amount.
Hungary also plans to block the extension of EU sanctions against Russians and Belarusians, arguing that “time should be given for U.S.-Russia peace talks.”
The United States may fully withdraw from the United Nations — Congress will consider the bill.
The proposed legislation calls for the U.S. to exit all UN agencies, cease funding them, and halt participation in joint peacekeeping operations. If passed, any future U.S. engagement with the UN would require Senate approval.
This move is driven by Republican claims that the UN no longer serves U.S. interests, accusing the organization of supporting Hamas and China.
“Hard-earned American tax dollars have been funneled into initiatives that undermine our values, appease tyrants, betray allies, and spread bigotry,” said Senator Mike Lee, the bill’s sponsor.
▪️The U.S. is the UN’s largest donor. In 2022, its contributions exceeded $18 billion, accounting for one-third of the UN’s total budget.
🇺🇸🇷🇺The United States opposed (www.ft.com/content/73809e7a-a772-403a-8755-41a329d6a45d) calling Russia an aggressor in the G7 joint statement marking the anniversary of the invasion, according to the Financial Times.
Western officials reported that U.S. envoys objected to the phrase “Russian aggression” and similar terms that G7 leaders have used since 2022 to describe the war.
“The Americans are blocking this wording, but we are still working on it and hope for an agreement,” an FT source said.
Last year’s G7 leaders’ statement mentioned Russian aggression five times.
🇺🇸 Kashyap Patel has been appointed as the new director of the FBI — he is known as a “loyal supporter” of Trump and a conservative radical.
The U.S. Senate confirmed him with a 51–49 vote. Democrats opposed the appointment, arguing that Patel would use his position to seek revenge against Trump’s political opponents. Republicans defended Trump’s nominee, claiming Patel would make the FBI more transparent.
▪️The Washington Post previously reported (www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/02/07/patel-fbi-russia-lopatonok/) that in 2024, Patel received a $25,000 fee from a Russian film company promoting pro-Russian and anti-Western views. Now, he will be responsible for countering Russian espionage operations in the United States.
Emmanuel Macron responded on social media to questions about Ukraine, Russia, and European security. Key points:
▪️“First and foremost, our goal is to put negotiations on the right track. We want peace, but not a ceasefire that would mean Ukraine’s capitulation. That would be very dangerous, as it would only lead Russia to go further.”
▪️On Russia’s military buildup: “Russia is now investing 10% of its GDP in armaments. In France, it’s 2%. Russia has also strengthened its cooperation with Iran, which supplies it with drones and other equipment. This way, Russia has globalized the conflict.”
🔥In Moscow, a fire broke out [19 Feb 25] at the S. A. Lebedev Institute of Computing Technology on Varshavskoye Highway.
The institute operates in Russia’s defense sector.
Ukraine did not block Trump’s social network Truth Social, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhyi.
Today, rumors spread that Ukraine had allegedly blocked Truth Social. This is fake, as Trump’s social network is not available in Ukraine. It operates only in a few countries, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Australia.
“We would appreciate it if Truth Social added Ukraine to its permitted region of operation,” Tykhyi said.