Skip next section Voices raised in clash between Trump and Zelenskyy
02/28/2025February 28, 2025
Voices raised in clash between Trump and Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his US counterpart Donald Trump openly clashed during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House.
“You’re not acting at all thankful. It’s not a nice thing,” the US president said, reportedly when Zelenskyy pushed for security guarantees. “It’s going to be very hard to do business like this,” he added.
“Make a deal or we’re out,” Trump told Zelenskyy.
Trump and Vice President also called Zelenskyy “disrespectful,” as the Ukrainian leader asked for a US security commitment.
“You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have,” Trump said.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rDjV
Skip next section Trump says US-Ukraine minerals deal ‘very fair’
02/28/2025February 28, 2025
Trump says US-Ukraine minerals deal ‘very fair’
At their White House meeting, US President told his Ukrainian counterpart that a ceasefire with Russia was “fairly close” and that the deal allowing the US to use Ukraine’s natural resources would be “very fair.”
Trump also told Zelenskyy that Ukraine will have to make “compromises” in a truce with Moscow. “You can’t do any deals without compromises. So certainly he’s going to have to make some compromises, but hopefully they won’t be as big as some people think,” Trump said at a meeting.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy told Trump there should be “no compromises” with Russian President as the parties negotiate to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Showing Trump pictures of war atrocities at a White House meeting, Zelenskyy said there should be “no compromises with a killer on our territory.” He also added that “I think President Trump is on our side.”
Zelenskyy also said that he would be speaking to the US president about the “crucial” need for a so-called US security “backstop” to any European deployments of peacekeepers monitoring an eventual truce.
Ines Pohl, DW’s Washington bureau chief, reporting from outside the White House, said that both leaders had a friendly meeting when Zelenskyy arrived. She emphasized that the stakes are high for both leaders.
“Donald Trump knows this is very important to him that they really come to an agreement today. He said repeatedly that if we won’t come to a deal today we won’t come to a deal at all,” Pohl said.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rDfj
Skip next section Zelenskyy arrives at White House for meeting with Trump
02/28/2025February 28, 2025
Zelenskyy arrives at White House for meeting with Trump
Ukrainian President arrived at the White House, where he was greeted by his US counterpart .
The leaders will hold a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office, followed by lunch. Trump and Zelenskyy will then hold a press conference at around 1 p.m. local time (1900 GMT).
While in Washington, Zelenskyy’s delegation is expected with the United States. The deal is part of Trump’s plan to end the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, but also to recoup some of the billions of dollars spent on military, financial, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the invasion in February 2022.
Zelenskyy hopes he can convince Trump to provide some form of US support for Ukraine’s security against future Russian aggression.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rDO7
Skip next section Russia names new ambassador to Washington
02/28/2025February 28, 2025
Russia names new ambassador to Washington
The Foreign Ministry has announced that the US has agreed to Moscow naming Alexander Darchiev as its new ambassador to Washington.
The US handed over an official note giving the green light to Darchiev‘s appointment during talks with Russia in Istanbul on Thursday, the ministry said. “His departure for his place of service in Washington is expected in the near future,” it added.
Darchiev is currently the head of the Foreign Ministry’s North America department. Moscow has not had an envoy in the US since the last ambassador left his post in October.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rCk6
Skip next section Starmer to host major Ukraine summit in London on Sunday02/28/2025February 28, 2025
Starmer to host major Ukraine summit in London on Sunday
British Prime Minister has invited over a dozen European and EU leaders to a summit on Sunday to “drive forward” action on Ukraine and security, his office said.
Ahead of the main summit, Starmer will chair a morning call with the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, and separately receive Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in his No. 10 Downing Street office.
Zelenskyy and Meloni were invited to the summit along with the leaders of France, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Turkey, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Romania. NATO chief Mark Rutte as well as EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa are also due to attend.
Starmer’s office said the meeting would build on the earlier this month and focus on “strengthening Ukraine’s position now — including ongoing military support and increased economic pressure on Russia.”
Earlier in the week, Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron traveled separately to Washington for . The US president, however, continues to evade solid commitments on US security guarantees regarding the war in Ukraine.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rCdQ
Skip next section Russia suggests resuming direct US flights
02/28/2025February 28, 2025
Russia suggests resuming direct US flights
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday that it had suggested resuming direct flights between and the during diplomatic talks in Istanbul this week.
“Paths to resolving the many annoyances inherited from previous American administrations were discussed,” read a statement. “It was suggested to the American side to examine the possibility of resuming direct air links.”
The statement said discussions were “substantive and professional” and “it was agreed to continue dialogue.”
The US and Europe ceased direct flights to Russia in February 2022 in the first few days of .
https://p.dw.com/p/4rCPD
Skip next section Russian infantry launch attack from Kursk into Ukraine’s Sumy region
02/28/2025February 28, 2025
Russian infantry launch attack from Kursk into Ukraine’s Sumy region
said on Friday that Russian troops had launched a cross-border attack on its northern Sumy region, near the settlement of Novenke.
“The Russians are currently attempting assault operations along the border without columns of equipment, in infantry groups,” said Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD), citing Ukrainian military sources.
Ukrainian defenders were reportedly engaging the Russians and “destroying the enemy,” said the CCD on its Telegram channel, adding: “At the moment, there has been no breakthrough, fighting continues.”
Ukraine’s Sumy region borders the Russian region of Kursk, a small part of which remains occupied by Ukrainian troops since a surprise . Kyiv is hoping to use occupied Russian territory as a bargaining chip in negotiations which can be traded for the return of .
As of mid-February, Ukraine reportedly only controlled 500 square kilometers (300 square miles) of Russian territory, almost two-thirds less than the 1,400km² held at the point of furthest advance last year.
According to Kyiv, troops have been among those forces deployed by Moscow to recover the territory.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rC6T
Skip next section ‘Europeans must not get obsessed with just being European’ – John Bolton
02/28/2025February 28, 2025
‘Europeans must not get obsessed with just being European’ – John Bolton
After ‘s probable next chancellor stated that Europe needs to become “independent” from the United States, former US national security advisor John Bolton said he understood the concerns but implored European nations not to retreat into isolationism, not to become “obsessed with just being European” and to remember that the is stronger with the United States than without it.
“This is not going to be an easy period for Europeans [but] the threats we [will] face around the world in the rest of the century, coming primarily from China and the China-Russia axis, are threats to the West as a whole,” he explained.
“The EU alone, cut off from the , is much more vulnerable to than it is joined with the United States,” he continued, insisting that it would be a “mistake” for Europe to think it “can’t ever count on the United States again” because “that’s not where the overwhelming majority of our citizens are.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4rBKK
Skip next section United States’ ‘shameful’ UN vote ‘threatens NATO alliance’ — John Bolton
02/28/2025February 28, 2025
United States’ ‘shameful’ UN vote ‘threatens NATO alliance’ — John Bolton
The decision of the to vote alongside Russia, Belarus and North Korea at the this week was a “shameful” move which “threatens the alliance” and “puts the US on the wrong side” of , according to Washington’s former ambassador to the UN and former national security advisor, John Bolton.
“It shows just how difficult it will be for to get a decent settlement of this conflict,” he told DW, admitting that he was “very worried” about Kyiv’s chances in eventual negotiations, and the prospect of “[putting] the West back together again” once President has left office.
“I think the US will have a lot of work to do to convince people that our word is good and that we are actually a nation of normal people again,” he said.
In the meantime, and NATO are going to have deal with the Trump administration for another 47 months. That, according to foreign policy hawk Bolton, involves recognizing what the president’s true priorities are.
“People need to understand: you’re not dealing with somebody who has a philosophy or a strategy or who does policy the way we all understand it,” he said, suggesting that Trump’s main aim is to secure the “biggest trade deal in history” with China — a “disastrous mistake” and a “dramatic change” in US policy, in his opinion.
“Trump is concerned with one thing, and that is: how does this make Donald Trump look? It doesn’t matter whether it benefits Europe. It doesn’t really even matter if it benefits the United States. What benefits Donald Trump?”
https://p.dw.com/p/4rBJz
Skip next section Three civilians killed in Russian-occupied Ukraine
02/28/2025February 28, 2025
Three civilians killed in Russian-occupied Ukraine
Three people are reported to have been killed by Ukrainian drone and artillery strikes in , according to Russian state news agencies.
RIA reported that a woman and a child were killed when a drone hit an ambulance in the village of Mala Lepetykha on the eastern bank of the Dnieper river in Ukraine’s partially occupied Kherson region.
Meanwhile, TASS, citing a Russian-installed governor’s press service, reported that another civilian was killed by shelling in Oleshky, a small town just across the Dnieper river from the city of Kherson.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rB46
Skip next section Over 200 Russian drones destroyed or disabled overnight
02/28/2025February 28, 2025
Over 200 Russian drones destroyed or disabled overnight
attacked with 208 drones overnight, according to the Ukrainian military.
107 were reportedly shot down by air defense systems while a further 97 disappeared from radar after having been disabled by electronic countermeasures.
The fate of the remaining four is not mentioned.
Even as US President pushes for a ceasefire on what appear likely to be his terms, Russia continues to launch almost nightly aerial assaults on Ukrainian towns and cities.
On Sunday, Kyiv claimed to have fended off the biggest such attack of the so far, reporting the use of 267 Russian drones.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rB29
Skip next section What did UK’s Starmer discuss with Trump? – recap
02/28/2025February 28, 2025
What did UK’s Starmer discuss with Trump? – recap
‘s trip to Washington comes less than 24 hours after British Prime Minister visited the White House in an attempt to persuade to commit to .
Starmer has said that the would be prepared to contribute troops to an international coalition to enforce peace in in the wake of any ceasefire deal — but only with a “backstop” consisting of US intelligence, logistics and air power.
“We’ve discussed a plan today to reach a peace that is tough and fair, that Ukraine will help shape, [and] that’s backed by strength to stop [Russian President coming back for more,” said Stamer after a meeting with Trump.
“I’m working closely with other European leaders on this and I’m clear that the UK is ready to put boots on the ground and planes in the air to support a deal. Working together with our allies, because that is the only way that peace will last.”
Trump, however, refused to commit to deploying US forces. He insisted that he would “always” help the British “if they need help,” but appeared to believe his minerals deal (see below) and the presence of US “workers” in Ukraine would be enough to appease Putin, in whom he expressed trust.
“I think he’ll keep his word,” he claimed. “I’ve known him for a long time now, and I think he will. I don’t believe he’s going to violate his word. I don’t think he’ll be back when we make a deal. I think the deal is going to hold now.”
Starmer also delivered an invitation to Trump from for an “unprecedented” second state visit to the United Kingdom, which the US President accepted.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rAxM
Skip next section What is the Ukraine minerals deal?
02/28/2025February 28, 2025
What is the Ukraine minerals deal?
President says the deal is aimed at recouping some of the approximately $200 billion the has spent supporting by securing access to profits from the extraction of rare earth metals.
Rare earth metals are minerals and elements such as lithium (used in batteries), lanthanum (used in camera lenses) and cerium (used in catalytic converters). Others including neodymium and praseodymium are in demand for magnets used in electric vehicle motors and wind turbines.
Ukraine estimates that its territory contains about 5% of the world’s “critical raw materials” including 7% of Europe’s titanium. Significant deposits of graphite, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, silver, manganese and cobalt are also present – albeit partly in eastern regions currently occupied by Russia.
Kyiv has long considered using its mineral wealth as a bargaining chip in return for continued US support in its ongoing – but the deal set to be signed on Friday reportedly does not include American military security guarantees.
Trump has suggested the very presence of American mining contractors in Ukraine will act as a deterrent to Russian aggression, but has said that any peacekeeping or peace enforcement operation will have to be led by European powers.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rAx9
Skip next section Zelenskyy expected in Washington to sign minerals deal02/28/2025February 28, 2025
Zelenskyy expected in Washington to sign minerals deal
Ukrainian President was on Friday headed to Washington where he is expected to put pen to paper on a deal which will see Kyiv hand over billions of dollars’ worth of mineral wealth to the .
The deal is part of President ‘s plan to end the ongoing war with – and recoup some of the billions of dollars spent on military, financial and humanitarian aid to since being .
Zelenskyy hopes the agreement will encourage Trump to maintain support for his forces’ efforts to recapture territory seized by Moscow.
Zelenskyy’s appointment at the White House, his first since President Trump’s return to power, comes hot on the heels of diplomatic visits this week by French President and British Prime Minister , as European powers attempt to decipher the United States’ erratic new foreign policy.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rAuY
The post Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy, Trump clash ahead of deal appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
