Skip next section Ukrainian prime minister, speaker support Zelenskyy
02/28/2025February 28, 2025
Ukrainian prime minister, speaker support Zelenskyy
Ukrainian top officials including the prime minister and speaker of the country’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, have expressed their support for President after he clashed with US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the White House.
“President Zelenskyy is right. Peace without guarantees is not possible,” Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal wrote on X.
Meanwhile, Ruslan Stefanchuk, the speaker, wrote: “Full support for the President of Ukraine! Full support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people! NO ONE has the right to forget that in this war Russia is the aggressor and Ukraine is the victim of aggression.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4rDzL
Skip next section Germany assures Ukraine it is ‘not alone’
02/28/2025February 28, 2025
Germany assures Ukraine it is ‘not alone’
After the clash between US President D and Ukrainian President , Germany’s outgoing Foreign Minister said that “Ukraine is not alone.”
“Germany together with our European allies stands united alongside Ukraine — and against the Russian aggression. Ukraine can build on unwavering support from Germany, Europe and beyond. Their defense of democracy & their quest for peace & security is ours,” she wrote on X.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rDyE
Skip next section Zelenskyy thanks America for support
02/28/2025February 28, 2025
Zelenskyy thanks America for support
Ukrainian President thanked America after leaving the White House early following failed talks with US President Donald Trump.
“Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you, US President, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that,” he wrote on X.
During their heated exchange in the Oval Office, Zelenskyy was repeatedly accused by Trump and Vice President JD Vance of being ungrateful.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rDxM
Skip next section European leaders back Ukraine after clash between Zelenskyy and Trump
02/28/2025February 28, 2025
European leaders back Ukraine after clash between Zelenskyy and Trump
French President , commenting on a shouting match between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, said that Russia is the aggressor and Ukrainians are the aggressed people.
“We must… respect those who have been fighting since the beginning,” Macron told reporters in Portugal.
Polish Prime Minister also supported the Ukrainian leader. “Dear President Zelenskyy, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone,” Tusk wrote on X after the Trump-Zelenskyy row.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote: “Ukraine, Spain stands with you” on X in three languages, Spanish, English and Ukrainian.
Meanwhile, Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund called the heated confrontation in the Oval Office “historic” on X.
Dmitriev was one of Moscow’s negotiators in the Russian-American talks held on February 18 in Saudi Arabia.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rDx4
Skip next section Watch: Trump and Vance clash with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office
02/28/2025February 28, 2025
Watch: Trump and Vance clash with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office
Watch the moment US President and Vice President conversation with Ukrainian President in the Oval Office turned into a shouting match.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rDvq
Skip next section Zelenskyy leaves White House early after clash with Trump
02/28/2025February 28, 2025
Zelenskyy leaves White House early after clash with Trump
Ukrainian President left the White House early after a heated exchange with his US counterpart and Vice President in the Oval Office.
According to a White House official, the leaders didn’t sign the critical minerals agreement, and their joint press conference was also canceled.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rDvA
Skip next section Trump breaks off talks, says Zelenskyy not ready for peace
02/28/2025February 28, 2025
Trump breaks off talks, says Zelenskyy not ready for peace
After the heated exchange in the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump broke off talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who reportedly left the White House early.
“I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE,” Trump wrote in the post on his Truth Social platform.
The US president said thast Zelenskyy “disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office.”
“He can come back when he is ready for peace,” Trump concluded.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rDrq
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.
“You’re either going to make a deal, or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out. I don’t think it’s going to be pretty,” 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 the lives of millions of people. 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.
The Ukrainian president shook his head and crossed his arms as Trump and Vance accused him of being ungrateful for US aid.
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
The post Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy leaves after clash with Trump appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
