Amy B. Zegart
Key developments on Feb. 20:
During U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, Moscow allegedly demanded that the U.S. withdraw NATO forces from eastern Europe as a condition for “normalizing relations,” the Financial Times (FT) reported on Feb. 20, citing two officials in …
A looming dropoff in U.S. weapons deliveries is threatening to strain Ukraine’s budding domestic arms production to the breaking point.
As U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration prepares negotiations with their Russian counterparts, Ukrainians …
Despite a long history of controversial and bombastic statements, U.S. President Donald Trump still managed to stun those watching this week by calling President Volodymyr Zelesnky a “dictator” and blaming Ukraine for Russia’s …
The recent statement by former U.S. President Donald Trump labeling Volodymyr Zelensky as a "dictator without elections" has fueled concerns among Ukrainians that U.S. military aid could soon be questioned by a new administration, according to a …
President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Keith Kellogg, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, in Kyiv on Feb. 20.
“We discussed in detail the situation on the battlefield and how to return all our POWs (prisoners of war), …
Did U.S. President Donald Trump say that Ukraine started the war with Russia? Yes, that's true: On February 18, 2025, speaking from his Mar-a-Lago residence, he said that Ukraine should have never started the war. That followed talks between the U.S. …
U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz on Feb. 20 urged Kyiv to “tone down” its stance and sign a minerals deal that President Volodymyr Zelensky refused to make.
“They need to tone it down and take a hard look and sign that …
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has met with the U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg. The Ukrainian President's spokesperson, Nykiforov, disclosed that a press conference planned after their talks was canceled upon the …
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Feb. 19 that President Volodymyr Zelensky was a “modestly successful comedian” turned “dictator” who “refused to have elections.”
This was the latest in a series of false …
An explosion in Russian-occupied Berdiansk on Feb. 20 killed Yevgeny Bogdanov, deputy head of the local occupation administration, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) claimed.
The intelligence agency accused him of committing multiple …
Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation and Justice Ministry are preparing to nationalize Poltava Mining, a subsidiary of London-listed Ferrexpo, which is majority owned by oligarch Konstantin Zhevago, the SBI announced on Feb. 20.
The move …
After the Trump administration accused European allies of not pulling their weight in the support for Ukraine, the Kyiv Independent sat down with the EU’s first-ever defense commissioner, Andrius Kubilius, to discuss whether Europe is ready to …
The U.S. is refusing to co-sponsor a UN resolution marking the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, which reaffirms Ukraine’s territorial integrity and condemns Moscow’s aggression, Reuters reported on Feb. 20, citing …
Ukrainian military intelligence head Kyrylo Budanov believes that Ukraine and Russia will reach a ceasefire this year, he said in an interview with Azerbaijani journalist Eynulla Fatullayev published on Feb. 18.
Budanov described the situation as …
Russian troops have regained control of about 64% of the territory in Kursk Oblast captured by Ukraine, senior Russian General Staff officer Sergei Rudsky said in an interview with the Russian Defense Ministry newspaper published on Feb. 20.
Ukraine …
European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Kyiv on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale war, Costa announced on Feb. 20.
Last week, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced …
