Key developments on Feb. 21:
- Russia wants to declare ‘victory’ over Ukraine on Feb. 24, Ukrainian intel claims
- Zelensky is not ‘important’ to negotiations on ending war, Trump says
- ‘No appetite’ for new Ukraine aid …
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Spies, Lies, and Algorithms
Amy B. Zegart
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Ukraine war latest: Russia wants to declare 'victory' over Ukraine on Feb. 24, Ukrainian intel claims
Ukraine
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Ukraine warns of Russian propaganda push as Kremlin plans to declare 'victory' over Ukraine and NATO
Russian propagandists have been instructed by the Kremlin to advance narratives about Russia's victory in the war against Ukraine by the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion—February 24, 2025, reports the Main Directorate of Intelligence of …
Ukraine
Russia
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Putin orders ministers to prepare for Western companies' return to Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed his Cabinet of Ministers on Feb. 21 to prepare for the return of Western companies, saying Russian firms should have “certain advantages” over those re-entering the market.
“We can adjust …
Ukraine
Russia
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USA
Zelensky is not 'important' to negotiations on ending war, Trump says
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Feb. 21 President Volodymyr Zelensky is not essential to negotiations to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“I don’t think he’s very important to be at meetings, to be honest with you,” …
Stugna-P: like Javelin only it’s not!
Ukraine
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Zelensky to sign US minerals deal soon, Waltz says
U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said on Feb. 21 that President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to sign a minerals deal with the U.S. “in the very short term,” the Guardian reported.
“President Zelensky is going to sign that …
Ukraine
Ukraine increases drone procurement budget by $220 million amid surge in domestic production
Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced a significant boost in funding for the country's drone procurement efforts, with the Cabinet of Ministers allocating an additional 7.9 billion hryvnias (nearly $220 million) for drone purchases. This …
Ukraine
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USA
After 3 years of war in Ukraine, sometimes I think: Stop the planet, I want to get off
I bet you woke up this morning, read the world news, and couldn’t believe it — how is this really happening? Has the world truly plunged into total chaos and madness? You just want to wake up from this nightmare, but instead, it keeps insisting on …
Ukraine
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Why Ukraine can’t hold elections during wartime
Editor’s Note: This op-ed was first published by the Ukrainian NGO Civil Network OPORA as an open statement, which garnered nearly 300 signatures at the time it was published by the Kyiv Independent.
Democracy during wartime must be protected even …
Ukraine
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Russia may offer frozen assets for Ukraine's reconstruction, demand funds for occupied territories, Reuters reports
Russia may be willing to use a portion of its $300 billion in frozen assets to help rebuild Ukraine as part of a potential peace deal but insist that some of the funds be allocated to occupied territories, Reuters reported on Feb. 21, citing sources …
Ukraine
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With coal miners fighting to keep Ukraine's lights on
A decade ago, Ukraine’s Donbas region was known for its thriving heavy industry and coal mining. Today, most of the region’s mines are closed due to the destruction caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine, which has brought global …
Ukraine
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Rubio: potential Trump-Putin meeting contingent on progress in Ukraine peace talks
In an interview with American journalist Catherine Herridge on X, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that a potential meeting between U.S. and Russian Presidents, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, largely hinges on achieving progress in …
Russia
Zelenskyy Demands Protection, Not Russian Security Guarantees
Ukraine
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Trump Administration revises rare earth minerals deal with Ukraine amid diplomatic tensions
In a recent development, the Trump administration has presented Ukraine with a revised draft agreement concerning rare earth minerals. The move comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky infuriated former U.S. President Donald Trump by …
Russia
Zelenskyy About His Meeting With Kellogg. Macron About Military Spending. Russia lacks soldiers
Ukraine
I Was One of the First Foreigners in Ukraine's Paratroopers Corps
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Lawmaker from Zelensky's party resigns after corruption charges, MP says
Iryna Kormyshkina, a member of parliament from President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Servant of the People party, has submitted a resignation letter amid a corruption investigation against her, Oleksii Honcharenko, an MP from the European Solidarity …
Ukraine
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Zelensky's approval ratings surge amidst disputed claims by Trump, new poll shows
A recent poll conducted by the Onukh IBIF project has found that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's approval ratings among Ukrainians have increased by 7% between May 2024 and November-January 2025.
According to the survey results released by …
Ukraine
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Most Danes back sending peacekeepers to Ukraine, poll shows
Around 53% of Danes are in favor of sending peacekeepers to Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale war ends, according to a poll published by Ritzau news agency on Feb. 21, Bloomberg reported.
The news comes amid growing Western deliberations over …
Ukraine
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Trump's envoy Kellogg praises Zelensky as 'courageous leader' after talks
U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, lauded on Feb. 21 “positive discussions” he held with President Volodymyr Zelensky a day earlier.
“A long and intense day with the senior leadership of …
Ukraine
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5.2 million Ukrainian refugees remain abroad, less than half plan to return, poll says
The share of Ukrainian refugees planning to return home has fallen to 43% by the end of 2024, compared to 74% in December 2022, according to a study by Ukrainian think tank the Center for Economic Strategy (CES) published on Feb. 21.
Around 5.2 …
Ukraine
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EU seeks more US gas to replace Russian supplies
The European Union will seek to increase gas purchases from the U.S. and other countries to replace Russian supplies, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said in a joint media interview, Reuters reported on Feb. 21.
Europe began to wean itself off …
Ukraine
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Over 130 Ukrainian NGOs say elections 'impossible' during war
Over 130 Ukrainian civil society organizations said that Russia’s war of aggression makes it impossible for Ukraine to hold presidential and parliamentary elections while martial law is in effect in a joint statement published on Feb. 20. …
Ukraine
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Ukraine Will Never Allow Russia to Destroy Lives Again – Zelenskyy
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Kremlin denies demanding NATO eastern rollback in talks with US
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed on Feb. 21 that Russia did not ask the U.S. to withdraw troops from NATO’s eastern flank during talks in Saudi Arabia.
The spokesperson said this in reaction to an article by the Financial Times …