Ukraine Invasion: Part 54

[MagicFox]

We're on 54. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦
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Asked what concessions Putin will have to make, Trump says that Ukraine can forget about NATO

Yes, although I wasn’t sure if he was saying forget about NATO more broadly, not just Ukraine….

In other news he’s literally the colour of a highlighter pen!

I don’t actually think he will see out the 4 year term.

As in the orange one is going to die?

We have been waiting for Putin to die since 2022.

Since 2013 here 😞

So sorry @Mb76 😓

We have to keep praying and/or hoping and in the meantime, please Europe pull yer finger out on defence spending.

Sending you and your loved ones much love @Mb76

@blueshoes I was thinking more along the lines of internal unrest, a coup of some sort or that kind of thing. I am quite convinced that the radio silence from real ‘big ticket’ players on both sides is because they are waiting for him to go too far, (which is surely a question of when, not if) and then things will be quick and decisive.

@Mb76 sending ❤️.

Has Trump put 25% tariffs on the EU

Is this so Trump can reverse (some of) the tariffs 10 mins later and claim that anything the EU does that he likes, it was because of the tariffs?

(At the moment probably something to do with Ukraine, but I'm sure he can flex if something else comes up that he wants credit for.)

See also: Canada tariffs.

Having read the Curtis Yarvin stuff, I would expect ditching Trump to be part of the tech oligarchy's plan – once he's ceased to be useful to them.

That's what the 25th Amendment's for, right? And if not that, some medical emergency.

They might do it openly, or they might wind up some external grouping to do it, to keep their hands ostensibly clean.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-26-2025

Key Takeaways:

• US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are planning to meet at the White House on February 28, likely to sign a US-Ukraine mineral deal. A draft agreement of the deal published ahead of the meeting does not provide US security assistance or security guarantees to Ukraine, however.
• Russian officials directly involved in negotiations with the United States continue to insist that any peace agreement to resolve the war in Ukraine must be based on Russia’s 2021 demands. They also insist on the surrender to Russia of territory that Ukrainian forces currently hold that is home to major cities and well over a million people.
• Russia is demanding that Ukraine surrender several large cities that Russian forces do not currently occupy and have no prospect of seizing, handing over one million Ukrainians over to Russia.
• Lavrov's and other Kremlin officials' continued rejections of a ceasefire and other terms that US President Donald Trump and European leaders have identified as necessary to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine demonstrate that Russian President Vladimir Putin remains uninterested in meaningful negotiations and assesses that he can achieve his war objectives militarily in the medium- to long-term.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Toretsk and Pokrovsk, and Russian forces recently advanced near Kupyansk, Chasiv Yar, Kurakhove, Velyka Novosilka, and Robotyne.
• Russian officials proposed that the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) assume control over all Russian pretrial detention facilities amid reports that the FSB is in charge of a pretrial detention facility linked to the abuse of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs).

And now…..the Tate brothers are apparently on a flight to Florida after intervention from the Trump administration. I appreciate its not directly Ukraine related (apologies) but it further evidences how much more into the gutter the Trump administration has sunk

Sexual violence has unfortunately been a key aspect ofRussia’s aggression, in case we were under any illusion Trump doesn’t see violence against women and minors as an issue.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ US, Russia to meet again tomorrow (kyivindependent.com/us-russia-to-meet-again-tomorrow-in-istanbul-lavrov-says/) in Istanbul, Lavrov says.
The first round of talks on Feb. 18 in Saudi Arabia marked the first direct negotiations between the U.S. and Russia since Moscow's full-scale invasion began.

⚡️Ukraine not on agenda (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-not-on-agenda-in-next-us-russia-talks-state-department-says/) in next US-Russia talks, State Department says.

⚡️Russia's advance slows down (kyivindependent.com/russias-advance-slowed-in-most-threatening-areas-after-ukraines-regrouping/) in critical areas after Ukraine regrouped, Syrskyi says.

⚡️Trump to announce (https://kyivindependent.com/trump-to-announce-25-tariffs-on-eu-imports-very-soon/) 25% tariffs on EU 'very soon.'
"We'll be announcing it very soon. It'll be 25% generally speaking, and that will be on cars and all other things," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

⚡️ EU in talks on mobilizing 'hundreds of billions' for defense after Trump's foreign policy shift, Bloomberg reports. (kyivindependent.com/eu-in-talks-for-freeing-up-massive-defense-spending-after-trumps-shift-bloomberg-reports/)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a three-step plan to ramp up defense spending, officials told Bloomberg.

Exclusive: The full text of the US-Ukraine mineral deal
(https://kyivindependent.com/exclusive-the-full-text-of-the-final-us-ukraine-mineral-agreement/) [which has already been copied here]

⚡️Trump says (kyivindependent.com/trump-says-to-meet-zelensky-on-feb-28-to-make-a-deal-on-minerals/) he will meet Zelensky on Feb. 28 in Washington to sign agreement on minerals.

⚡️No security guarantees (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-us-minerals-deal-references-security-guarantees-without-specifics-zelensky-says/) in US minerals deal, to be discussed later, Zelensky says.

⚡️No sanctions relief (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-can-forget-about-nato-no-russia-sanctions-relief-pre-deal-trump-says/) for Russia pre-deal and Ukraine 'can forget about' NATO, Trump says.

⚡️ Zelensky invited to special EU summit (kyivindependent.com/zelensky-invited-to-special-eu-summit-on-ukraine-next-week/) on defense, Ukraine [...] on March 6 that will be dedicated to "European defense and Ukraine," European Council President Antonio Costa said in an open letter dated Feb. 26.

⚡️North Korea deploys (kyivindependent.com/north-korea-deploys-additional-troops-to-russia-south-korean-intelligence-claims/) additional troops to Russia's Kursk Oblast, South Korean intelligence says.
No information was immediately available as to how many new troops were being sent into Russia, with the official adding that the "exact scale is still being assessed."

⚡️MH17 victims' relatives want (kyivindependent.com/mh17-victims-relatives-demand-russian-admission-of-responsibility-for-crash-to-be-part-of-peace-deal/) Russian admission of responsibility for crash to be part of peace deal, media reports.

⚡️Finland to provide (https://kyivindependent.com/finland-to-provide-ukraine-with-691-in-military-equipment/) Ukraine with $691 million in military equipment.

⚡️US declines (kyivindependent.com/us-declines-wto-statement-condemning-russian-aggression/) to sign WTO statement condemning Russian aggression.
The United States abstained from signing a statement by members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) condemning Russian aggression on Feb. 26, breaking from its Western allies.

⚡️ 'More than 40 explosions (kyivindependent.com/more-than-40-explosions-hur-confirms-ukrainian-drone-strike-on-russias-tuapse-oil-refinery/)' — HUR confirms Ukrainian drone strike on Russia's Tuapse oil refinery.
Earlier on Feb. 26, Russia's Defense Ministry said 128 Ukrainian drones had been downed over the country, 83 of them in Krasnodar Krai.

⚡️Ukraine hits key Russian military sites (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-hits-key-russian-military-sites-in-crimea-krasnodar-krai-general-staff-claims/) in Crimea, Krasnodar Krai, General Staff says.
The joint operation targeted the Saky and Kacha military airfields in occupied Crimea and Russia's Tuapse oil refinery, the military claimed on Feb. 26.

⚡️Ukrainian forces liberate (kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-forces-liberate-kotlyne-village-near-pokrovsk-in-donetsk-oblast/) Kotlyne village near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast.

⚡️ Ukraine's DTEK plans LNG import deal (https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-dtek-plans-lng-import-deal-by-april-bloomberg-reports/) by April, Bloomberg reports.
The company expects to finalize and announce the deal within the next two months, with most potential partners based in the U.S.

⚡️ Australian philanthropists donate $3.15 million (kyivindependent.com/australian-charity-donates-3-million-to-regional-recovery-in-ukraine/) to Ukraine, urge governments to step up support.
Minderoo Foundation on Feb. 27 donated 5 million Australian dollars ($3.15 million) to support Ukrainian communities impacted by Russian aggression and affirm Ukraine's territorial integrity.

⚡️Ukraine to receive (kyivindependent.com/demining/) $730 million for demining equipment from partners by 2034.

⚡️Romania approves shooting down drones (https://kyivindependent.com/romania-approves-shooting-down-drones-that-violate-airspace/) that violate its airspace.

⚡️Far-right Romanian presidential candidate detained, charged (kyivindependent.com/far-right-romanian-presidential-candidate-detained-charged-in-election-probe/) in election probe.
The Romanian Prosecutor General's office has charged pro-Russian Calin Georgescu with "incitement to actions against the constitutional order" and other alleged crimes related to the Nov. 24 first-round elections.

⚡️Bulgarian court orders recount (kyivindependent.com/bulgarian-court-orders-recount-of-parliamentary-election-results-amid-voting-discrepancies/) of parliamentary election results amid voting discrepancies.

⚡️US, Russia reportedly discuss (kyivindependent.com/trump-aims-to-peel-russia-off-of-china-us-secretary-of-state-says/) Arctic cooperation as Trump seeks to pull Moscow from Beijing.

⚡️ Ukraine's agriculture industry has lost $80 billion (kyivindependent.com/ukraines-agriculture-industry-lost-80-billion-due-to-russian-invasion-official-says/) due to Russian invasion, minister says.
This figure includes not only direct damage but also indirect damage caused by disrupted logistics, increased fertilizer and fuel costs, expenses for land reclamation and demining, and occupied territories, Agriculture Minister Vitalii Koval said.

⚡️ Trump admin says it's cutting (kyivindependent.com/trump-admin-says-its-cutting-90-of-usaid-foreign-aid-contracts/) 90% of USAID foreign aid contracts.
The Trump administration said on Feb. 26 that it is terminating over 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) foreign aid contracts, cutting $60 billion in foreign assistance, the U.S. media reported.

US author explains Donald Trump’s Russia, KGB connections ()
Craig Unger is an American journalist and writer who has written two books on Donald Trump’s connections to Russia’s security services and the Russian mafia stretching all the way back to the 1980s.
Unger says he is “absolutely certain” that the U.S. president is a Russian asset whose current actions are benefiting Russian President Vladimir Putin, and destroying relationships with long-time allies. [no idea how reliable Unger is]

⚡️Zelensky officially dismisses (kyivindependent.com/zelensky-dismisses-joint-forces-commander-hnatov/) Joint Forces Commander Andrii Hnatov, [...] after appointing him deputy chief of the General Staff in January.

⚡️ Culture Ministry to suspend issuing permits for journalists, artists to travel abroad. (kyivindependent.com/culture-ministry-to-suspend-issuing-permits-to-journalists-artists-for-travel-abroad/)
The measure, which will take effect on March 3, comes in response to cases in which men used their permits to stay abroad longer than permitted.

⚡️Ukrainian journalist Tatiana Kulyk killed (kyivindependent.com/russian-drone-attack-on-kyiv-oblast-kills-journalist-surgeon-in-their-home/) in her home by Russian drone attack in Kyiv Oblast.
Tatiana Kulyk was a journalist at the Ukrinform news agency and host of "the Nation of the Invincibles" program.

⚡️Ukrainian director of commercials Vitalii Kokoshko killed in Russia's war (kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-commercials-director-vitalii-kokoshko-killed-in-russias-war/).

⚡️ 8 killed, 18 injured in Russian attacks (kyivindependent.com/attacks-131/) against Ukraine over past day. [26-27 Feb 2025]

⚡️Russian attacks across Ukraine kill (kyivindependent.com/russian-attacks-across-ukraine-kill-5-injure-36-over-past-day/) 5, injure 36 [from 25 - 26 Feb 2025] .

⚡️5 killed (kyivindependent.com/5-killed-11-injured-in-russian-attack-on-kostiantynivka/), 11 injured in Russian airstrike on Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬ ‪
⚡️ WAR IN UKRAINE - FEB 27, 2025
■ 110 engagements, casualties slightly below average
■ Equipment losses above it; good artillery & armored losses
■ Visually confirmed: 45 🇷🇺 29 🇺🇦 (1.6x)
■ 🇷🇺 strikes close to average, 🇺🇦 strikes down after a big day before

Sky News

North Korea sending more troops to Russia, Seoul says

South Korea's spy agency says North Korea appears to have sent additional troops to Russia for use in its war in Ukraine.

Pyongyang previously provided Moscow with around 10,000-12,000 troops in 2024, according to US, South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence officials.
Seoul's National Intelligence Service said in a brief statement yesterday that it was trying to determine exactly how many more troops North Korea has deployed to Russia.

It also assessed that North Korean troops were redeployed at fronts in Russia's Kursk region in the first week of February, following a reported temporary withdrawal from the area.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an address on 7 February, confirmed a new Ukrainian offensive in Kursk and said North Korean troops were fighting alongside Russian forces there.

Yesterday, South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo newspaper, citing unidentified sources, reported an additional 1,000-3,000 North Korean soldiers were deployed to Kursk between January and February.

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

Zelenskyy confirmed his visit to the US on February 28.

The leaders of the 27 EU states held a video conference, during which they heard information from Macron about his negotiations with Trump and discussed preparations for the emergency summit of the European Council, scheduled for March 6.

Russia offered the US a share in the mineral resources of the occupied territories of Donbas and Zaporizhzhia, NBC News reports.
The deal is currently under discussion, and the US is not ruling out this option, according to American officials familiar with the intelligence.
It is suggested that such a move could consolidate Russia’s control over the captured regions and influence Trump’s position on Ukraine.
“Trump is a businessman, and Putin, understanding this, proposed a strategic exchange,” NBC quotes a former American diplomat.

SBU soldiers destroyed 1,676 enemy drones.
The commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, Sukharevskiy, also stated that they are starting to shoot down “Shaheds” with FPV drones, and this is already giving real results.

Türkiye is ready to participate in the restoration of Ukraine, with urgent tenders to be announced in April-May and major projects planned for 2025, the Turkish newspaper Türkiye reports.
In 2025, tenders will begin for the renovation of customs posts, the construction of highways, and the creation of a toll road system. The list also includes energy, energy efficiency, social housing, and water supply.

Zelenskyy stressed that the new agreement on the use of minerals with the US does not contain any provisions on Ukraine’s “debt” to the States.

Journalist Tetiana Kulik and surgeon Pavlo Ivanchov were killed in a night attack by Russian forces in the Kyiv region. [...] Pavlo was the head of the surgery department at Bogomolets University.

Former pro-Russian presidential candidate in Romania, Calin Georgescu, has been arrested and taken for questioning by the Prosecutor General’s Office in connection with the financing of his election campaign.
The prosecutor’s office suspects 27 people of acting against the constitutional order of Romania, public incitement, creating a fascist organization, and making false statements about the sources of financing for the election campaign.

Bach to step down as IOC President in summer.
The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) agreed to accept the resignation of IOC President Thomas Bach, effective after June 23, 2025.
On September 10, 2013, Thomas Bach was elected as the ninth IOC President. He was re-elected for a second four-year term on March 10, 2021.

Rubio said that when talking to the Russians, the US is testing how serious they are about peace.
"If what they are insisting on is unrealistic, then we know they are not serious about it. But we have to test this proposal. We have to know, and the president wants to know early in his presidency, whether the Russians are interested in ending this war or not," the secretary of state explained.
He stressed that Trump is a deal maker and has been a deal maker his whole life.
"He is not going to get caught up in a bad deal. He is not going to get caught up in endless negotiations. But he wants to be a peacemaker, not just a deal maker, but a peacemaker, and President Trump is testing whether the Russians are serious or not," the official said.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

“There will be NO cessation of war in Ukraine along the contact line” — Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov
Other statements:
▪️Russia is not considering ANY options for deploying European peacekeepers in Ukraine.
▪️Russia and the US will hold a meeting in Istanbul on Feb. 27 regarding the work of their embassies.
▪️Europe is openly trying to “undermine conflict” resolution in Ukraine.
▪️Russia believes that no agreements should be made that would lead to the “rearming of Ukraine.”
▪️What “remains of Ukraine” must be cleansed of “racist laws.”

“We’re going to have Europe handle that,” Trump said, denying US security guarantees for Ukraine.
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/47897

Zelensky is expected to visit Britain this weekend for talks with UK Prime Minister Starmer and other European leaders.
www.kyivpost.com/post/47900

Out of $65.9 billion in military aid the US claimed to send to Ukraine, only $18.3 billion materialized due to a 60% lower weapon value, undelivered transfers, and limited grants, economists estimate.
www.kyivpost.com/post/47869

“I won’t agree to EVEN a 10% debt repayment in this deal with the US” — Zelensky commented on the rare earth deal in a Wednesday press conference.
“It’s not about a lack of gratitude—we are grateful. But this was a grant.”

Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers approved an agreement with the US on natural resources, establishing an Investment Fund for Reconstruction under the following terms:
▪️The fund will be jointly owned by Ukraine and the US.
▪️Ukraine retains ownership of its natural resources.
▪️Ukraine will contribute 50% of revenues from natural resource assets.
▪️The US will contribute funds and assets.
▪️Investments will go toward Ukraine’s reconstruction.
▪️The deal aligns with Ukraine’s EU integration commitments.

France is in talks with Kyiv over access to Ukraine’s mineral resources but has stressed that, UNLIKE the US, it is not seeking them in exchange for its aid in Ukraine’s fight against Russia.
www.kyivpost.com/post/47931

17 casualties for every square kilometer occupied — the blood price of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
www.kyivpost.com/post/47810

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlight

On the night of February 27, Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 90 Russian drones, while 72 decoy UAVs failed to reach their targets.
In total, Russia launched 166 UAVs against Ukraine. Air defense was active in Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, and Odesa oblasts.

Thanks for the updates, so much riding on Starmer today I hope he speaks as he does in PMQs rather than his stilted speeches and I’d really like him to express his disappointment about the US stance with the UN resolution, the WTO resolution, NATO, security safeguards, the G7 and sanctions, the US deal exploiting Ukraine and the inaccuracies (lies) about US funding Ukraine.

in reality I suppose that isn’t diplomacy against possible tariffs etc, but I want a Hugh Grant moment from him today

From Sky:
Donald Trump caused outrage around the world by describing Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a "dictator" because he has not held elections during the war.

At the start of his meeting in the Oval Office with Sir Keir Starmer, he was asked by a journalist to repeat that statement.
The US president replied: "Did I say that? I can't believe I said that. Next question."

He’s also never heard of AUKUS and has to ask what it is 😂 God help us all!

well some good news at least.
Trump has extended sanctions for 1 more year. This is surprising but it's very good news.

UNITED24 Media
BREAKING: US President Donald Trump announced the extension of sanctions against Russia for another year due to its invasion of Ukraine.