Ukraine-Russia conflict newest: Rubio skips key assembly with European leaders however set for Zelensky talks | EUROtoday

Volodymyr Zelensky has provided to carry an election if there’s a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.

In an interview with Politico on the Munich Security Conference, the Ukrainian president referred to as for Donald Trump to ramp up its stress on Russia, and stated he would maintain elections if Trump efficiently pushed Vladimir Putin to a two- or three-month ceasefire.

When requested about whether or not there was any course of in talks and whether or not Ukraine would maintain an election this Summer, Trump stated on Friday Zelensky higher “get moving” if he wished a peace settlement.

“He said something to me?” Zelensky responded within the interview, including that it will be a “great idea” to carry elections.”

Zelensky stated there would solely be elections “when the war stops”, which wouldn’t require “necessarily an end to the war,” however that would want a ceasefire.

He stated individually on Friday that Trump wished to comply with a peace deal “all at once”, as he “like things in one big package,” like he did along with his “one, big, beautiful bill”.

Volodymyr Zelensky stated Donald Trump wished to comply with a peace deal “all at once”, as he “like things in one big package,” like he did along with his “one, big, beautiful bill”.

His feedback, which have been reported by The Guardiancome after the US president warned Zelensky he was “going to have to get moving” if he wished to achieve a peace settlement with Russia.

But talking from the Munich Security Conference, the Ukrainian president stated that the method of talks was necessary because it wanted to offer Ukraine with real reassurance, the newspaper reported.

Volodymyr Zelensky pushed again on the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) choice to disqualify Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych from competing within the Winter Olympics.

Heraskevych was disqualified from competing within the skeleton heaton Thursday (12 February) for carrying a helmet honouring Ukrainian athletes who died through the ongoing conflict with Russia.

The IOC reiterated to Heraskevych and the Ukrainian delegation that his helmet violated rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter, which states that “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”

Supporting Heraskevych, the Ukrainian president stated, “It is not politics to speak about what is actually happening.”

US secretary of state Marco Rubio skipped a Berlin Format assembly on Ukraine held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, in line with the Financial Times.

Rubio had been anticipated to hitch leaders from round a dozen European international locations, together with Germany, Poland and Finland, in addition to officers from the European Commission and Nato. The newspaper reported that he cancelled on the final minute, citing scheduling conflicts.

“The secretary won’t be attending the Berlin Format meeting on Ukraine given the number of meetings he has happening at the same time,” a US official informed the Financial Times. “He’s engaging on Russia-Ukraine in many of his meetings here in Munich.”

One European official described the cancellation as “insane”, whereas one other informed the newspaper that with out US participation the assembly lacked substance.

The reported choice comes amid broader strains within the transatlantic relationship and considerations in some European capitals that Washington could also be recalibrating its method to the conflict.

Rubio individually met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Munich to debate Ukraine, negotiations with Russia and continued help for Kyiv, together with army support. After the assembly, Rubio wrote on X that they mentioned “our shared efforts to secure supply chains, advance efforts to end the Russia–Ukraine war, and strengthen the partnership between the United States and Europe.”

Reports citing Ukrainian and European officers claimed the president meant to announce the plans on 24 February, after the Trump administration issued a June deadline for a finalised peace settlement.

But, with out ruling out an announcement sooner or later, Ukraine’s chief has pushed again on the date itself.

The newest spherical of US-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine in Geneva comes as Washington will increase stress for motion in the direction of a deal and the conflict approaches its fourth 12 months.

Ukrainian officers have stated the United States has urged each side to make progress within the coming months, with president Donald Trump publicly pushing for an settlement to finish Moscow’s invasion. The new discussions observe two earlier rounds in Abu Dhabi that reportedly centered on army points equivalent to ceasefire monitoring and attainable buffer zones.

The timing can be notable as combating continues alongside the roughly 1,200km entrance line, with Russia sustaining strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and Kyiv finishing up long-range assaults on army and energy-related targets.

No vital compromise on territory has been signalled, notably over the Donbas area in jap Ukraine, which stays a central level of disagreement.

Two units of diplomatic talks – on Iran and on the conflict in Ukraine – are anticipated to happen in Geneva on Tuesday, in line with a Reuters report quoting a supply briefed on the matter.

A US delegation together with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner is ready to fulfill Iranian officers on Tuesday morning, the supply stated. Representatives from Oman can be current to mediate the US-Iran contacts.

Witkoff and Kushner are then anticipated to participate in trilateral talks within the afternoon with representatives from Russia and Ukraine, the supply added.

President Donald Trump has been rising stress on Iran following its crackdown on protesters and has expanded the US naval presence within the area. He can be searching for to push Kyiv and Moscow in the direction of an settlement to finish Russia’s four-year invasion of Ukraine.

A Ukrainian missile assault killed two folks and injured 5 on Friday within the Russian metropolis of Belgorod close to the border, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov stated.

Mr Gladkov, talking in a video posted on Telegram, stated the lads have been members of crews restoring broken heating and electrical energy networks town.

Restoration work will resume on Saturday because it was too harmful for crews to be working at night time, Mr Gladkov stated.

Mr Gladkov had earlier stated that the assault brought about severe harm to vitality amenities, and that electrical energy, heating and water provides have been lower. Three house buildings within the metropolis sustained harm.

The unofficial SHOT Telegram channel stated residents reported a sequence of loud explosions within the metropolis and air defences have been in operation.

Belgorod, about 40km (25 miles) from the border, has come below requent assault from Ukrainian forces.

Sir Keir Starmer met the Ukrainian president and European leaders at a serious defence summit.

Efforts to finish the conflict between Ukraine and Russia are excessive on the agenda on the Munich Security Conference because the four-year anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion nears.

The way forward for transatlantic ties can be the main focus of discussions as Europe grapples with antagonism from Donald Trump’s White House.

The US delegation is being led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who pointed to a “new era in geopolitics” earlier than his arrival.

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