Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, has been secretly tasked with helping negotiate an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine, the New York Times (NYT) reported on Feb. 11, citing undisclosed …
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Spies, Lies, and Algorithms
Amy B. Zegart
- Ukraine could trade territory in potential peace talks with Russia, Zelensky says
- Ukraine strikes Russia’s Saratov oil refinery, military confirms
- US won’t send troops to Ukraine, Pentagon chief says
- North Korea …
Ukraine
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USA
Trump envoy who negotiated prisoner release secretly assigned to help end Ukraine war, NYT reports
New Commanders Appointed to 33rd and 156th Brigades
Two Ground Forces mechanized brigades have appointed new commanders.
Russia
DPRK SOLDIERS ARE BACK! Russia Uses Kim Jong-un’s Troops as Cannon Fodder!
Ukraine
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USA
Russia releases imprisoned American teacher in 'exchange' deal
The Kremlin on Feb. 11 released Marc Fogel, a U.S. schoolteacher jailed in Russia on drug charges, in a deal negotiated with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.
Fogel, a history teacher from …
Ukraine
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Defense Ministry building testing ground for new AI-powered demining tech
The Defense Ministry is initiating the creation of a trial site to test new technologies used in demining, including those involving artificial intelligence, according to a statement published Feb. 11.
Over 139,300 square kilometers of Ukrainian land …
USA
Trump Wants Money Regardless of How War Ends
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USA
Ukraine war latest: 'We'll swap one territory for another' — Zelensky on trade territory in potential peace talks with Russia
Key developments on Feb. 11:
Ukraine
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USA
As US vacates its leading role, Europe takes helm at Ramstein
The U.K. is set to gather the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on Feb. 12, taking over the role the U.S. had assumed at the start of the all-out war.
With U.S. President Donald Trump pulling his country out of established international agreements and …
Ukraine
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USA
US won't send troops to Ukraine, Pentagon chief says
The U.S. plans to review the deployment of its troops around the world but is not going to send them to Ukraine, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a press conference on Feb. 11.
Hegseth’s remarks come amid ongoing discussions among …
Ukraine
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US-based CourtAvenue acquires Ukrainian AI firm BotsCrew
CourtAvenue, an American artificial intelligence solutions company ranked among the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., has acquired a controlling stake in BotsCrew, a Ukrainian company that develops chatbots for business, BotsCrew …
Ukraine
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A slipping CPI score signals Ukraine’s anti-corruption efforts are stagnating
Another year has passed, and we are once again analyzing Ukraine’s position in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). This year, Ukraine lost one point, now with 35 out of 100 possible points, ranking 105th out of 180 countries.
While the loss of a …
Ukraine
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Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 13
Editor’s note: This is issue 13 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly “Ukraine Reforms Tracker” covering events from Feb. 3–Feb. 9, 2025. This newsletter was until recently titled “Ukrainian Economy in Brief." The digest …
Ukraine
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🔥 EXPL*SIONS All Over Russia! Ukrainian Forces Took More Russian Territory | Front NEWS
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Ukrainian drones destroy Russian Smerch-2 rocket launcher in Donetsk Oblast
Soldiers of the 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, part of the Steel Lions unit, shared footage on Feb. 11 showing a rare Russian Smerch-2 anti-submarine rocket launcher being destroyed by drones in the Lyman sector of the front line in Donetsk …
Unknown UAVs Spotted Over the German Air Force Base
Russia
USA
Refinery and Military Airfield in Russia Were Attacked. Reinforcement from DPRK. Trump's Peace Plan
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London-based digital bank Revolut officially launches in Ukraine
British fintech company Revolut officially launched its services in Ukraine after a beta testing phase, introducing a special Clear Sky debit card in Ukraine’s national blue and yellow colors, the company announced on its website on Feb.11. …
Ukraine
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USA
US Treasury Secretary to visit Ukraine this week for talks on critical minerals deal, Bloomberg reports
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will visit Ukraine this week to discuss a potential deal between Kyiv and Washington on critical minerals, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 11, citing undisclosed sources.
In recent days, U.S. President Donald Trump …
Georgia's Shift Towards Authoritarianism: New Repressive Laws Passed
Ukraine
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Ukraine can help dismantle Russia’s influence in the Middle East
The fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad has dealt a significant blow to Russia’s ambitions in the Middle East. Yet Russia still retains influence across the region through trade, diplomacy, and military ties. Even now, Moscow maintains a presence …
J.D. Vance and Zelenskyy Will Probably Meet to Discuss the War's End
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USA
Ukraine could trade territory in potential peace talks with Russia, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky said he planned to exchange territories if U.S. President Donald Trump succeeds in bringing Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table, according to an interview with The Guardian published on Feb. 11.
Ukraine launched a …
Ukraine
Russia
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Chinese refiners offered discounted Russian oil as US sanctions deter buyers, Bloomberg reports
Chinese refiners are being offered Russian ESPO crude at discounted prices as rising concerns over U.S. sanctions create logistical and administrative challenges, deterring buyers, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 11.
In one of his final moves in office, …
Ukraine
Russia
Russia’s war on Ukraine. 10.02.25
On the Kursk direction, “Siversk” OTG advanced southeast of Sudzha near Russkaya Konopelka, Fanaseevka, along the 38K-028 Sudzha–Oboyan highway southwest of Russkaya Konopelka.
The enemy counterattacked in the areas of Sverdlivkovo, Nikolskiy, Malaya …
Ukraine
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Ukraine secures $58 million grant from Japan for reconstruction
The Ukrainian government approved a draft agreement with Japan to secure an 8.8 billion yen ($58 million) grant for reconstruction projects, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on Feb. 11.
The funds will be provided through the Japan International …