Ukraine Invasion: Part 54

[MagicFox]

We're on 54. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦
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I don't know whether I'm coming or going at the moment

Looks like the toddler responds well to people who smile nicely at him and say "No!" firmly.

deleted due to accidently pressing the Post button too early

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ US-Russia talks (https://kyivindependent.com/us-russian-talks-in-istanbul-meant-to-strengthen-trust-moscow-says/) in Istanbul meant to 'strengthen trust,' first of many, Moscow says.

⚡️First contacts (https://kyivindependent.com/first-contacts-with-trump-administration-inspire-certain-hopes-putin-says/) with Trump administration 'inspire certain hopes,' Putin says.

⚡️Trump considered (https://kyivindependent.com/trump-considered-canceling-zelenskys-washington-visit-changed-mind-after-macron-talks-media-reports/) canceling Zelensky's visit, changed his mind after meeting Macron, TV channel reports.

⚡️Russian troops 'bogged down' (https://kyivindependent.com/russian-troops-bogged-down-near-pokrovsk-ukrainian-military-claims/) near Pokrovsk, Ukrainian military claims.
"I am not saying that Ukrainian forces caught some second, third, or 100th and 500th breath... But Russian troops have indeed begun to show some physical, moral, and material exhaustion," said Viktor Trehubov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces.

‘As long as Russia is advancing, the war will continue’— military analyst Rob Lee on what awaits Ukraine in 2025 (/despite-negotiations-buzz-russias-war-is-likely-to-continue-says-military-analyst-rob-lee/)/

⚡️Turkey considers (https://kyivindependent.com/turkey-considers-sending-troops-to-ukraine-as-part-of-peacekeeping-force-bloomberg-reports/) sending peacekeepers to Ukraine, Bloomberg reports.
Turkey has indicated its openness to deploying troops in Ukraine as part of a potential peacekeeping force, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 27, citing sources familiar with the matter.

⚡️Rutte announces NATO allies will provide Ukraine with billions more in aid (https://kyivindependent.com/rutte-announces-nato-allies-will-provide-ukraine-with-billions-more-in-aid/).
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Feb. 27 that alliance members are ramping up their defense investments and preparing additional financial support for Ukraine.

⚡️EU leaders to discuss special envoy (https://kyivindependent.com/eu-leaders-to-discuss-special-envoy-for-ukraine-peace-talks/) for Ukraine peace talks, Bloomberg reports.
European leaders are expected to use the March 6 summit to define a unified stance on defense and security guarantees for Ukraine.

⚡️Zelensky meets (https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-meets-irish-pm-martin-in-shannon-ahead-of-washington-trip/) Irish prime minister ahead of Washington visit.

"I am not saying that Ukrainian forces caught some second, third, or 100th and 500th breath... But Russian troops have indeed begun to show some physical, moral, and material exhaustion," said Viktor Trehubov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces.

⚡️Don't 'give Russia what they want' — Kallas decries (kyivindependent.com/kallas-decries-taking-nato-membership-off-the-table-for-ukraine/) taking NATO membership off the table for Ukraine.

⚡️Russia claims to recapture (https://kyivindependent.com/russia-claims-to-recapture-village-north-of-sudzha-in-kursk-oblast/) village north of Sudzha in Kursk Oblast.

⚡️Future peacekeeping force may patrol (https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-seeks-expanded-role-for-possible-peacekeeping-forces-in-air-sea-monitoring-foreign-ministry-says/) air, sea space, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry says.

⚡️EBRD lowers Ukraine’s 2025 growth forecast (https://kyivindependent.com/ebrd-lowers-ukraines-2025-growth-forecast-amid-inflation-war-impact/) amid inflation, war impact.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has lowered its 2025 growth forecast for Ukraine’s economy, now expecting 3.5% growth instead of the previously projected 4.7%.

⚡️ France has led talks on Ukraine's minerals since October 2024, French minister says. (/france-has-led-talks-with-ukraine-on-minerals-since-october-2024-minister-says/)/

What the US-Ukraine mineral deal actually means (https://kyivindependent.com/first-we-need-peace-us-ukraine-minerals-deal-first-step-on-long-road-to-investment/)
As Kyiv and Washington celebrate agreeing to jointly develop Ukraine’s natural resources after weeks of tense negotiations, the deal still has a long way to go before the money starts flowing.

⚡️General accused of botching Kharkiv defense released (https://kyivindependent.com/general-accused-of-mismanaging-kharkiv-defense-granted-house-arrest-ukrainian-pravda-reports/) from detention facility, lawyer says.
The Kyiv Court of Appeal has released Lieutenant General Artur Horbenko from a detention facility and placed him under house arrest until March 20, online newspaper Ukrainian Pravda reported on Feb. 27, citing his lawyer Maksym Tkhorivsky.

⚡️ Revolut operating illegally (https://kyivindependent.com/revolut-operating-illegally-in-ukraine-without-required-license-national-bank-says/) in Ukraine without required license, National Bank says.

Russia seized boats, harassed volunteers, concealed gravesites ― Kakhovka Dam explosion investigation (https://kyivindependent.com/russia-seized-boats-harassed-volunteers-concealed-gravesites-kakhovka-dam-explosion-investigation/)
The Kyiv Independent's War Crimes Investigation Unit recorded fifty testimonies from eyewitnesses, relatives of eyewitnesses, and volunteers who stayed in the occupied territories during the flooding following the Kakhovka Dam explosion and were involved in rescuing people.

63-year-old Russian film critic put under house arrest in Moscow for ‘fake news’ about war in Ukraine (https://kyivindependent.com/63-year-old-russian-film-critic-put-under-house-arrest-in-moscow-for-fake-news-about-war-in-ukraine/)

⚡️Trump says he 'can't believe' he called (/trump-says-he-cant-believe-he-called-zelensky-a-dictator/)/ Zelensky 'dictator'.

⚡️Russian attacks (kyivindependent.com/russian-attacks-against-ukraine-kill-three/) against Ukraine kill 3, injure 20 over past day.

‪Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬ ‪
⚡️ WAR IN UKRAINE - FEB 28, 2025
■ Engagements up but casualties stay below average
■ Equipment losses stay above it; APV & tank losses well above it
■ GSUA has made adjustments to selected categories
■ Increased 🇷🇺 strikes, strike ratio could be better

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

British Prime Minister Starmer has invited more than a dozen European and EU leaders to a summit on Sunday, March 2, to advance action on Ukraine and security.
Leaders from across continental Europe, including France, Germany, Denmark, and Italy, as well as representatives from Türkiye, NATO, and the EU, have been invited to the summit in London later on Sunday, his office added.

The Washington Post reports that Ukraine's population is projected to decline to 25 million by 2050 and to 15 million by 2100. The ongoing war has resulted in tens of thousands of civilian and military deaths, with at least 5 million people fleeing the country and another 5 million living under Russian occupation.
Even before the conflict, Ukraine faced some of the world's most challenging demographic trends. The war has exacerbated this situation, as many women of reproductive age have left the country, and numerous men have been killed, are actively fighting, wounded, or have also left.
Those remaining in Ukraine are experiencing stress, economic stagnation, and poverty, factors that deter family planning. The Ukrainian government aims to encourage the return of those who have left, particularly young, educated professionals and women of childbearing age, once the war ends.

The United States and NATO are becoming stronger. NATO members are moving quickly to increase defense investments. Alliance members are also preparing additional billions in aid to Ukraine and contributions to security guarantees, said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte after a conversation with US President Donald Trump.

❗️The war will end either very soon or never — this is what Trump believes.
He said that the next step towards resolving the conflict in Ukraine should be a ceasefire, which can be achieved quickly.

Russian channels publish rare footage of the launch of the Shahed-136 kamikaze drone from a ground launch platform. https://t.me/United24media/29481

France has been negotiating with Ukraine about using Ukrainian minerals for its defense industry since October, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Franceinfo.
Lecornu explained that France has been working on the issue for several months, starting last fall, when Volodymyr Zelenskyy “included the issue of raw materials in his victory plan” during a visit to Paris. The Ukrainian president made “a series of proposals not only to the United States but also to France,” the minister said.
He added that these metals would be used to produce military materials.
“Our defense industry will need a number of raw materials that are absolutely key to our own weapons systems, not just next year, but for the next 30 or 40 years. France needs to diversify its imports of this type of metal. This is what Emmanuel Macron asked me to do, in particular to discuss with the Ukrainians,” Lecornu said.

Sorry off-topic but doesn't anyone else have issues with this thread? When I open it, instead of going to my bookmark it jumps to the bottom of the page the bookmark is on, and when I go to the next page it jumps to the bottom again. Doesn't happen on any other threads, only this one so wondering if its happening to anyone else or its just a me thing?

All the time. It's irritating.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Marco Rubio said that during the initial negotiations with Russia, the US was very clear that they cannot cooperate with Russia economically until the war ends.
He added that Trump “will not be drawn into endless negotiations” and that he truly wants to be a “peacemaker.

Trump softens his tone, saying he is ‘open to many things’ regarding security guarantees for Ukraine but emphasizes that any commitments would come after a deal between Kyiv and Moscow.
www.kyivpost.com/post/47987

Turkey is reportedly open to sending peacekeepers to Ukraine as part of security guarantees if Ankara is involved in all relevant discussions and preparations.
kyivpost.com/post/47964

Russia’s secret war against the West is already underway! Sabotage, cyberattacks, and political manipulation — Putin’s tactics are more dangerous than ever.

Pfarrer explains: Is the West fighting back, or are we letting Russia win from the shadows?

Mr. President, guess what? Russia invaded Ukraine. Can we at least agree on that one? Facts MATTER. Is there anybody in here that has enough courage to say RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE? — congresswoman Jasmine Crockett https://t.me/Kyivpost_official/28365

Yes, not just this thread for me though.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

Only 6.6% of the world’s population lives under full democracy—the worst figure in nearly 20 years.
The Economist has published its annual Democracy Index ranking. For the 16th consecutive year, Norway tops the list, followed by New Zealand and Sweden. At the bottom are North Korea, Myanmar, and Afghanistan.
Ukraine currently ranks 92nd (down from 91st last year). The index cites a decline in democratic standards due to the centralization of power in the President’s Office, the diminishing role of parliament, government, media, and opposition, as well as the necessary cancellation of elections.
At the same time, the authors acknowledge that holding free and fair elections in Ukraine is currently impossible.

🇦🇹 Austria’s government coalition is formed — without the pro-Russian far-right.
The Austrian Liberal Party (NEOS), the Conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), and the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) have agreed to form a governing coalition.
▪️In September 2024, the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) won the most seats in the parliamentary elections. The FPÖ opposes support for Ukraine and Austria’s participation in sanctions against Russia, claiming that such measures violate the country’s neutrality. However, despite its victory, the party has been excluded from the new government coalition.

❗️Talks between the U.S. and Russia on restoring embassy operations took place in Istanbul.
The negotiations lasted over six hours and were conducted behind closed doors. So far, neither the American nor Russian delegations have commented on the discussions, and the composition of the delegations remains undisclosed.

🇮🇪 Ireland is ready to send its peacekeepers to Ukraine.
This was stated by Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin after his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Lukashenko stated that Russia will never agree to the deployment of peacekeepers from EU countries in Ukraine and accused EU leadership of “aggressiveness.”

“It’s total extortion.”
Former UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace is scathing about the US-Ukraine minerals deal.

Russian schoolchildren mistakenly celebrated Russia’s Special Operations Forces Day with the emblem of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces.
Ukrainian SOF operatives remotely “conducted” a patriotism lesson in Russian schools. Neither students nor teachers knew what the actual emblem of Russia’s SOF looked like, leading them to create an entire collection of drawings featuring the insignia of Ukrainian troops.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-27-2025

Key Takeaways:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin and senior Russian officials continue to reject US negotiating terms and demand that Ukraine surrender territory that Russia does not occupy.
• Kremlin guidelines to Russian state media about coverage of recent US–Russian meetings indicate Russian President Vladimir Putin's determination to manipulate US President Donald Trump and divide the West.
• US and Russian delegations met in Istanbul, Turkey on February 27 to continue to discuss US–Russian bilateral diplomatic relations.
• The Kremlin is reportedly continuing to push the United States to accept economic benefits that are unrelated to the war in Ukraine in return for Ukrainian and Western concessions that are related to the war.
• North Korea reportedly recently deployed additional troops to Kursk Oblast as North Korea continues to expand its military capabilities through cooperation with Russia.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Toretsk and Pokrovsk, and Russian forces recently advanced near Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, and Velyka Novosilka.

Thankfully just this thread for me. So annoying though.

"I am not saying that Ukrainian forces caught some second, third, or 100th and 500th breath... But Russian troops have indeed begun to show some physical, moral, and material exhaustion," said Viktor Trehubov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces"

Whenever I read comments from the soldiers, they want to fight on.

Does anyone know what UK time President Zelensky is due at the White House please? Plenty of publicity for Starmer yesterday, today nothing, yet I see it as far more important.

Yes, I have the page problem too, across the whole site at times. Click back or forth and it lands at the bottom.

Yesterday's meeting was around 5pm

Both Sky News and BBC are doing live coverage of the meeting.

In my experience this happens every time I start to type a post (on any thread) and then decide it's silly and delete it. Every time I open a page on that thread thereafter I get redirected to where my post would be if it existed.

Get exactly this when I delete a post - only goes away after actually making a post on the thread

I hadn't thought of trying that....

Thanks!

Spotted this from the Guardian

It’s still early morning in Washington, so it may take a while before we get to our main event of the day. We’re expecting Zelenskyy to arrive at the White House around 5pm CET (4pm GMT), with a joint press conference with Trump to follow about two hours later, so 7pm CET (6pm GMT).

Weird. I need to see if that's the connection for me. I rarely start posts without posting them though.

From a Reuters reporter:

And in case that’s not enough….

BBC NEWS CHANNEL THEY ARE ARGUING LIVE ON TV! TRUMP, VANCE AND ZELENSKYY!

How Zelenskyy hasn’t got up, punched one of them in the face and then walked out of that room is beyond me.

This is extraordinary.
Yes he is so restrained.

Trump is losing control of himself in front of the world’s press and its jaw dropping