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
- A crucial meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump ended in acrimony after a very tense exchange in the Oval Office, with Zelenskyy leaving the White House early.
- Zelenskyy said he believes relations with the White House can be salvaged despite the highly unusual public clash with Trump that derailed talks toward ending Russia's war against Ukraine.
- Meanwhile, EU leaders have voiced their support for Zelenskyy after his fiery meeting with Trump in Washington.
- Senior diplomats from Russia and the United States, looking to thaw relations the Kremlin has called "below zero," met in Istanbul for talks on resolving disputes over their respective diplomatic missions in Washington and Moscow.
- North Korea has sent more soldiers to Russia and redeployed several to the front line in the Kursk region bordering Ukraine, Seoul's intelligence agency said on February 27.
- Ukraine's parliament, in a symbolic show of support, has approved a resolution reconfirming Zelenskyy's legitimacy as the country's leader amid questions from the United States and Russia over his legal standing.
- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, a strong ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, apologized on February 25 for his country's support for a resolution reaffirming support for Ukraine and its territorial integrity, saying the vote cast was a "mistake."
- The United States on February 24 split with its European allies at the United Nations by rejecting wording that blamed Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in resolutions seeking an end to the war.
- French President Emmanuel Macron on February 24 said a truce between Ukraine and Russia could be agreed "in the weeks to come" but also warned that peace cannot mean the "surrender" of Ukraine.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24 indicated a shift in his stance, saying in an interview with state television that European countries can "participate" in talks to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
Analysis: 4 Takeaways From The Disaster In The Oval Office
Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s White House visit was supposed to produce a mineral-resources deal and send positive signals about the potential for Washington and Kyiv to work together on peace in Ukraine. Instead, it went horribly wrong, raising stark questions about what could happen next. Here are four takeaways from Steve Gutterman.
Inside The Ukraine-U.S. Minerals Deal (It’s Not What You Might Think)
Volodymyr Zelenskyy is happy. Trump is happy. What’s not to like? Inside the minerals agreement that Kyiv hopes will clear the air with the Washington.. Read the report by Mike Eckel here.
What Is Russian Media Saying About Trump's Mineral Deal With Ukraine?
As the Ukrainian president arrives in Washington to sign a deal with his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, on granting the United States access to his country's mineral wealth, Russia's tightly controlled media have been scrambling to keep up with the Kremlin's shifting narrative. Report by By Current Time, Andrey Cherkasov, and Will Tizard
Exclusive: Russian Defector Leaks Files Revealing Shocking Scale of War Casualties
More than 600,000 Russian troops have been wounded in battle during Moscow’s three-year-old invasion of Ukraine. Most have cycled through Russia’s vast military hospital complex. A database obtained exclusively by RFE/RL provides unique insights into Russia’s evolving efforts to cope with its casualties. Read the report by Mark Krotov, Lukas Zalais, Mike Eckel, Wojtek Grojec, Ivan Gutterman, and Sergei Dobrynin here.
How Has Moscow's War In Ukraine Transformed Russia?
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which marks its third year on February 24, has been a geopolitical earthquake, shaking the decades-old international order. The ramifications for Russian citizens have been far from uniform, differing sharply by region and social group, among other factors. Read the report by RFE/RL's Russian Service and Todd Prince here.
Can The U.S. And Russia Impose A Peace Deal On Ukraine?
he U.S.-Russia talks have intensified concerns of them reaching agreement on ending the war in Ukraine that ignores Ukrainian and European interests. Washington has said it does not wish to do this, but would it even be possible? Read the article by Ray Furlong here.
How Realistic Is A European Peace-Keeping Force In Ukraine?
Amid a whirlwind of diplomacy, European leaders have begun talking with renewed urgency about sending troops to Ukraine. What would a peacekeeping force look like – and how realistic is it? Read the article by Ray Furlong here.
What Have We Learned From High-Stakes U.S.-Russia Talks In Saudi Arabia?
U.S. and Russian officials have finished their first talks on ending the war in Ukraine, with Kyiv and its European allies watching anxiously from the sidelines. Read the report by Reid Standish here.
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.
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.
