In the 1,089th day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the situation on February 17th saw intense fighting. Ukrainian drone strikes resulted in casualties in Russia’s Belgorod and Krasnodar regions, while Russian forces intensified attacks in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian military reported downing nine Russian drones and launching counterattacks to reclaim territory.
In politics and diplomacy, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy rejected a US offer for rare earth minerals in exchange for aid, saying the agreement did not protect Ukraine’s interests. White House spokesperson Brian Hughes criticized Zelenskyy’s decision, emphasizing the economic benefits the deal could bring. Zelenskyy also warned that Russia would wage war on NATO if President Trump scaled back support.
Amidst talks of peace agreements, Zelenskyy insisted on Ukraine’s involvement in negotiations between the US and Russia. He also travelled to the UAE for discussions on repatriation of captured Ukrainians and economic cooperation. French President Macron discussed with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince the role of Europe in peace talks, while German Chancellor Scholz reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted the ongoing talks with Russia and the difficult conditions faced by the US Embassy in Moscow. The US and Russia were reportedly set to hold talks in Saudi Arabia. Similarly, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed readiness to send troops to Kyiv if necessary.
Overall, the day was marked by intense fighting and diplomatic maneuvers as key players sought to address the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
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