RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western military aid to Kyiv, worldwide reaction, and the plight of civilians and refugees. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.
Latest Developments At A Glance
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv has not been invited to attend U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia over ending Moscow's war on Ukraine.
- U.S. President Donald Trump is sending a senior team to Saudi Arabia to begin negotiations with Russia and Ukraine with an eye on ending the nearly 3-year-old war, U.S. officials told multiple media outlets.
- Zelenskyy has called for the creation of a unified European military force, saying the Continent must be self-reliant amid a persistent threat from Russia and uncertainty about U.S. support -- a situation he described as "this new reality."
- Ukraine would have a “very, very difficult” time surviving without U.S. military support to fend off Russia’s invasion, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in an interview broadcast the night before he is scheduled to address the Munich Security Conference.
- The much-anticipated Munich Security Conference kicked off on February 14 amid swirling snowfall and intense speculation about whether it will lead to a diplomatic breakthrough that can chart a course to ending Russia’s war on Ukraine.
- Zelenskyy said on February 14 that a Russian drone struck and “significantly” damaged the protective sarcophagus at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
How Will USAID Cuts Affect Ukraine?
The abrupt suspension of USAID funding is leaving some Ukrainian charities struggling to cope as their financial lifeline is being severed. Read the story by Ray Furlong here.
Ukraine Needs U.S. Weapons. Trump Wants Its Rare Earth Minerals. What Gives?
The latest twist in U.S. President Donald Trump’s maneuvering to bring Russia’s war on Ukraine to an end? No more U.S. for Kyiv unless on it gives U.S. more access to its rare earth minerals. What exactly is a rare earth mineral and why does Trump want it? Read the report by Mike Eckel and Wojtek Grojec here.
Can Kyiv Convince Ukrainian Refugees To Come Back Home?
As Ukraine faces a critical labor shortage amid its ongoing war with Russia, the government is urging millions of refugees abroad to return and help rebuild the nation. New “unity hubs” in Europe aim to reconnect Ukrainians with their homeland -- but will they be enough to persuade those who have started new lives elsewhere? Read the story by Vasyl Arovych here.
Could Trump Cut A Deal With Putin And Leave Ukraine In The Cold?
U.S. President Donald Trump said he wants to end the war in Ukraine as quickly as possible, but his desire for peace raises the possibility of striking a deal that leaves Kyiv out in the cold. Read the report by Reid Standish and RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service here.
North Korean Troops Vanish From Ukraine War’s Front Lines, Officials Say
North Korean troops have not been seen on the front lines in Ukraine for weeks now, Ukrainian and U.S. officials say. After taking “big losses,” it’s unclear if they’re retreating for good or just temporarily rotating out. Read the report by Mike Eckel here.
China Supplying Key Chemicals For Russian Missiles, RFE/RL Investigation Finds
An investigation by RFE/RL’s Schemes has found that companies at least partially owned by the Chinese state are feeding critical minerals to Russian suppliers to manufacturers of weapons the Kremlin has used to pummel Ukraine since its all-out invasion nearly three years ago. Read the report by Kyrylo Ovsyaniy, Anna Myroniuk, Schemes and Carl Schreck here.
As Putin Spends Billions On War, Russians Struggle To Afford Homes
Soaring interest rates and sharp subsidy cuts have brought a once-thriving mortgage market to a halt, putting homeownership out of reach for many Russians. Sky-high mortgage rates may rise further this year, and massive spending on the war against Ukraine means relief may be far away. Read the report by Todd Prince here.
Why Are European Troops For Ukraine A Nonstarter?
Donald Trump's inauguration is focusing minds on a future peace plan for Ukraine, with much talk of European armies providing a military mission. French President Emmanuel Macron has been a particularly strong advocate of boots on the ground -- but there are considerable obstacles. Read Ray Furlong's analysis here.
Why Do Ukrainians Oppose Lowering The Conscription Age?
A Ukrainian mother told RFE/RL that she has sent her teenage sons abroad so that they can avoid military service when they came of age -- and she’s not alone. Suggestions by senior U.S. politicians that Ukraine lower the conscription age from 25 to18 are deeply unpopular. Read the report by Ray Furlong, RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service, and Current Time here.
What A Ukraine Peace Plan Could Look Like
In European capitals, behind closed doors, diplomats and leaders are spit-balling what a Ukrainian peace plan might actually look like. European peacekeeping troops are one option (don’t expect much enthusiasm from Moscow). Read the article by Mike Eckel here.
Interactive: Occupied, Militarized Crimea
As Ukrainian leaders vow to reclaim all territories seized by Russia, Moscow has prepared extensive defensive measures, particularly in Crimea, a region unlawfully annexed in 2014. This area, now under Russian occupation, has been heavily militarized with an array of air bases and army bases, making it one of the most fortified zones in the war. View the interactive map by Crimea.Realities, Schemes, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, and Central Newsroom here.