Trump's latest statements and the announcement of an emergency EU meeting on Ukraine: news highlights from February 21.
U.S. President Donald Trump has once again criticized President Volodymyr Zelensky. Meanwhile, the EU plans to hold an emergency meeting regarding Ukraine.
For more details on what happened on Friday, February 21, see the article from RBK-Ukraine.
Trump Issues New Series of Sharp Statements about Zelensky and the War in Ukraine
U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his criticism of President Volodymyr Zelensky. He specifically stated that he does not consider it necessary for Zelensky to be present at negotiations and meetings concerning the cessation of the Russo-Ukrainian war.
The main remarks made by Trump during his interview with Fox Radio can be found in the RBK-Ukraine article.
EU to Hold Emergency Meeting on Ukraine
The EU will hold an emergency meeting on Ukraine. The discussion will focus on developing new defense plans.
According to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, about a dozen colleagues from countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Poland, as well as representatives from the European Union and NATO, will participate in the videoconference.
"European leaders are rushing to develop new defense plans in light of the possibility that the U.S. may end its substantial military and financial support for Ukraine. Washington has also begun peace negotiations—a prospect that will impact the security architecture on the continent for many years to come—without the involvement of Europe or Kyiv," the Bloomberg article states.
As noted by the authors, the meeting of defense ministers will coincide with the visit to Kyiv—three years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine—by several European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. EU foreign ministers will also meet in Brussels on Monday.
Trump May Visit Moscow on May 9
U.S. President Donald Trump is "likely to arrive" in Moscow on May 9. There, he is expected to meet with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
Le Point claims that unnamed sources revealed information about Trump's visit to Moscow.
The publication states that this way, Trump and Putin "will celebrate a joint victory" in peace negotiations to end Russia's war against Ukraine.
Journalists point out that this "will not be the first time" an American leader visits Moscow on May 9. In particular, Bill Clinton accepted Boris Yeltsin's invitation to visit Moscow on May 9, 1995, to commemorate the first decade since the end of World War II following the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Odessa Detains Perpetrator of Attack on Military Prosecutor
The Security Service and National Police "apprehended" an FSB agent who prepared a terrorist attack in the center of Odessa on February 20 of this year.
At that time, the enemy detonated a car belonging to the prosecutor of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office in the Southern Region. As a result of the explosion, a passerby was injured.
Later that evening, law enforcement detained the perpetrator of the attack. He turned out to be an 18-year-old resident of Odessa, who was recruited by the occupiers through a Telegram channel seeking "easy" money.
Under the instruction of the Russian special service, the young man manually crafted an improvised explosive device (IED) in a rented apartment, with a power equivalent to 300 grams of TNT.
To increase its lethality, he additionally packed the explosives with metal nuts and placed it under the military prosecutor's car. He also set up a hidden mobile phone with remote access for the FSB opposite the "target."
Subsequently, the Russian special service remotely activated the explosives. During searches, a mobile phone with evidence of his communication with the occupiers was seized from the detainee.
Russia May "Concede" $300 Billion in Assets for Ukraine's Reconstruction
Russia may agree to transfer its frozen assets to aid in the recovery of Ukraine, which have been blocked by Western countries. In total, Europe and the U.S. have frozen about $300 billion in Russian assets.
Three unnamed sources told Reuters that Moscow is considering using a significant portion of these frozen assets for Ukraine's reconstruction as part of a possible peace agreement.
One of the sources clarified that Russia might agree to transfer "two-thirds" of the frozen assets for Ukraine's recovery "provided there are guarantees of accountability." The remaining portion of the $300 billion is allegedly intended for the restoration of temporarily occupied territories.
The Reuters sources also highlighted that it is important to discuss which companies will receive future reconstruction contracts. Another source added that Russia will, in any case, demand the unfreezing of assets as part of a gradual lifting of sanctions.
Ukrainian Missile "Trembita" Showcased for the First Time at an Exhibition
A new Ukrainian development was showcased for the first time at the Defense Innovations Forum in Kyiv. The "Trembita" missile, according to its developers, is capable of reaching Moscow.
As reported by Ukraine's Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, on February 21, Kyiv hosted the largest defense innovations forum in Ukraine's history. The Defense Tech Innovations Forum displayed hundreds of various technologies—from drones to missiles.
At this forum, the drone-missile "Trembita," produced in Ukraine, was shown up close for the first time. This is a cruise missile that flies at speeds of up to 400 km/h.
Kellogg Makes First Statement After Meeting with Zelensky
U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg considers the discussions with Ukrainian leadership to be positive. This includes his negotiations with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to Kellogg, he had a "long and productive" day in Kyiv with Ukraine's leadership.
"Great and positive discussions with President Volodymyr Zelensky, the leader of a fighting, struggling nation, and a brave leader, as well as his talented national security team," added the U.S. special representative.
Ukraine and the U.S. Aim to Resolve Dispute Over Mineral Agreement This Week
Negotiators from Ukraine and the U.S. are striving to overcome disagreements in the strategic mineral agreement this week to move towards finalizing the agreement.
According to Bloomberg, Ukrainian officials discussed the mineral issue with U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg during his visit to Kyiv. Bloomberg sources reported this on the condition of anonymity, as the negotiations were held behind closed doors.
They stated that the U.S. proposal involved receiving 50% of revenues from the sale of licenses and other income from Ukrainian minerals, which would violate Ukrainian legislation. In response, Kyiv allegedly proposed changes to the agreement that would be beneficial for both parties.
The Cabinet Will Allocate Nearly 8 Billion Hryvnias for Drone Purchases
According to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, one of the key areas of the Cabinet's work remains strengthening Ukraine's self-sufficiency. An additional 7.9 billion hryvnias will be allocated for drone purchases.
The funds will be transferred to the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection, which will carry out the necessary purchases.