In our weekly digest, you will find the main news from Ukraine, an analysis of key events and an overview of international support that helps strengthen Ukraine’s economy and defense capabilities. We will also cover the situation at the frontline, analyze the impact of the war in Ukraine on global processes, and talk about events that shape the future of the world.
Ukraine will receive a grant of about $58 million from Japan
Ukraine will receive a grant from Japan in the amount of 8.8 billion Japanese yen, or about $58 million. This was announced by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
Today we approved the relevant draft agreement between our governments. These will be funds from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to finance reconstruction projects, – the statement said.
The U.S. House of Representatives has registered a draft law on a land grant for Ukraine
The U.S. House of Representatives has registered a bill to give the U.S. President expanded powers to provide Ukraine with assistance in the form of a land grant.
The bill H.R. 1158 was submitted by Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, Suspilne reports.
War criminal Putin understands only the language of force. “We must give President Trump the authority to provide Ukraine with the weapons of war victory en masse and quickly to force Russia to the negotiating table. Peace through strength, – he wrote in X.
It is not yet known what kind of assistance to Ukraine Wilson’s legislative initiative will provide. The text of the bill is not yet available on the House of Representatives website.
The bill’s page states that the document should “provide the President (of the United States – ed.) with expanded authority to enter into agreements with the Government of Ukraine to lease defense equipment to that Government to protect civilians in Ukraine from Russian military invasion, and for other purposes”.
The United States will not send its military to Ukraine – Hughes
The United States plans to review the deployment of the US military around the world, but is not going to send them to Ukraine. This was stated by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hagel at a press conference at the headquarters of the US Africa Command in Germany.
According to him, there are currently no plans to reduce the US military contingent abroad.
But there is an understanding that we are going to review the deployment of forces around the world. President Trump’s strategic beliefs on this differ in many ways from Joe Biden’s. We certainly don’t want to plan, especially given the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and what happened on October 7, as well as the war that was waged in Ukraine,” the Pentagon chief said.
Hughes noted that he hopes for a quick conclusion of the peace agreement in Ukraine, which Trump has pledged to conclude.
Looking forward to a quick peace deal in Ukraine, which the president is committed to, we will be able to review, force, position and encourage what we see tomorrow in Ukraine at the Ukraine Contact Group meeting and at the NATO ministerial. We will be talking frankly with our friends, – he said.
At the same time, Hughes denied the possibility of sending American troops to Ukraine.
We will not send American troops to Ukraine, – the U.S. secretary said.
UN Industrial Development Agency plans to open an office in Ukraine
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) plans to open an office in Ukraine. This office will ensure effective management of post-war reconstruction projects.
This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine following a meeting between Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa and UNIDO Senior Coordinator for Ukraine Stefan Sikars.
In particular, during the meeting, the official noted the significant expansion of UNIDO projects in recent years and emphasized the importance of the Agency’s attention to the reconstruction of the destruction caused by Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.
We welcome UNIDO’s plans to establish an office in Ukraine to ensure effective project management, given the critical importance of rapid post-war economic recovery in Ukraine. We also welcome the Agency’s unique experience in the areas of circular economy and green industrial recovery, decarbonization and sustainable energy, technology transfer and infrastructure development, – Betza said.
Switzerland joins the 15th package of EU sanctions against Russia
On Wednesday, February 12, the Swiss Federal Council (government) decided to join the 15th package of European Union sanctions against Russia. This is stated on the website of the Swiss government.
These measures will come into force on February 13. The government reminded that on December 23, 2024, information on 54 individuals and 30 companies and organizations was added to the list of Swiss sanctions against Russia.
Switzerland is now prohibited from recognizing and enforcing certain decisions of Russian courts in which they claim exclusive jurisdiction over disputes between Russian and Swiss companies. This prohibition is aimed at protecting the rights of Swiss companies and protecting them from unjustified financial losses. At its meeting on February 12, 2025, the Federal Council decided to join the further measures of the 15th EU sanctions package against Russia.
It is now prohibited in Switzerland to recognize and enforce certain judgments of Russian courts in which they claim exclusive jurisdiction over disputes between Russian and Swiss companies. This prohibition is intended to protect the rights of Swiss companies and protect them from unjustified financial losses.
The amendments also extend various exemption provisions that allow Swiss companies to withdraw investments from Russia in an orderly manner.
US will continue to provide assistance to Ukraine in exchange for a deal on rare earth metals
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that America will continue to support Ukraine in exchange for an agreement on the extraction of rare earth metals.
He made the statement during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to a Suspilne correspondent.
According to Bessent, US President Donald Trump intends to do everything possible to end this war. The United States, says Scott Bessent, is committed to Ukraine’s independence, and American citizens need to know why the United States is interfering in Ukraine’s affairs.
President Trump has a plan to end this war, and we would like to conclude an economic cooperation agreement. And in exchange for this agreement, the United States will continue to provide material support to Ukraine and its people. That’s what we have here. And we think that this will send a strong signal to the American people that the money coming into Ukraine means that we have common values, that we have common security, and we hope to increase our common economic commitments, – the US Treasury Secretary explained how the cooperation agreement between Ukraine and the United States would look like.
Scott Bessent also believes that such an agreement would send a strong signal to the Russian leadership about the US commitment to Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump had a phone conversation: what they talked about
On February 12, President of the United States of America Donald Trump and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation. This was reported by the press service of the Office of the President of Ukraine.
They noted that the conversation lasted about an hour. President Zelensky said that he and Donald Trump talked about the possibilities of achieving peace and teamwork, as well as technological opportunities.
We discussed our conversation with Scott Bessent and the preparation of our new agreement on security and economic and resource cooperation. President Trump briefed me on the details of his conversation with Putin, – Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine seeks peace more than anyone else. He also added that he is grateful to Donald Trump for his interest in what Ukraine and the United States can do together.
On his social media platform Truth Social, Donald Trump said that his conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy went “very well”. Trump said that Zelensky wants peace, just like Putin.
We discussed a variety of topics related to the war, but mainly the meeting that is planned for Friday in Munich, where Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the delegation. I hope the results of this meeting will be positive, – Trump said.
The US president also added that it was time to stop the war, which he called “senseless” and which had caused “unnecessary death and destruction”.
Switzerland will allocate almost €1.6 billion for the reconstruction of Ukraine
On February 12, the Swiss Federal Council (government) approved an aid program for Ukraine worth CHF 1.5 billion (EUR 1.58 billion) to be used for the country’s reconstruction and development in 2025-2028. This is stated on the government’s website.
It is noted that the state program for 2025-28 is the first stage of the process of federal support for recovery, reform and sustainable development in Ukraine, designed for 12 years.
It provides for a number of measures aimed at providing emergency assistance, establishing a just and sustainable peace and creating a foundation for the Ukrainian people to move forward in their lives, – the statement said.
The Netherlands provides Ukraine with 25 armored personnel carriers to transport the wounded
The Netherlands is providing Ukraine with 25 YPR armored tracked vehicles designed to transport the wounded. This was announced by Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans during a meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine’s Defense in the Ramstein format.
In his statement, the Dutch Defense Minister emphasized the importance of international support in Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression.
The Minister of Defense also added that the Netherlands has already delivered the last promised T-72 battle tanks to Ukraine, along with the Czech Republic and the United States. In addition, Ukraine has recently received a new batch of Dutch F-16 aircraft.
Germany to transfer about 100 air defense missiles for IRIS-T to Ukraine
On February 12, after the Ramstein meeting, Germany announced the transfer of about a hundred IRIS-T guided missiles to Ukraine. This was reported by the German mission to NATO.
The future support for Ukraine in the form of equipment and military training was confirmed by more than 50 countries at today’s UDCG meeting. Germany will continue to play an important role in this support and has announced the delivery of about 100 IRIS-T guided missiles in the near future, – the X social media post reads.
Trump says the US will continue to help Ukraine
After a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump assured that the United States would continue to help Ukraine, because otherwise “Putin would think he had won”. This was reported by the Voice of America.
And, frankly, we will do it as long as it takes, because we don’t want anything else to happen, but Putin wants peace now, – Trump said at a press conference at the White House on Wednesday, February 12.
Trump emphasized that he had agreed with Putin to begin negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. When asked if the US would send aid to Ukraine, Trump said that it would, “but the money has to be secured”.
He said that the previous administration was “foolish” to give money to Ukraine, but his administration plans to get guarantees of returning its money.
Our money will be secured. They have rare earths (metals – ed.), they have oil, gas and many other things, and we ask that our money be secured. And the Ukrainians agreed to this, – Trump said.
Ukraine finalizes draft agreement on rare earth metals
Ukraine has finalized the draft memorandum of partnership and handed it over to the American side. This was reported to Suspilne by the Ukrainian delegation to the Munich Security Conference.
During a telephone conversation on Wednesday, Zelenskyy and Trump agreed that Ukraine would finalize the draft memorandum of partnership and hand it over to the Americans at the Munich conference.
Ukraine handed over the document and the American side asked for time until 5 p.m. on Friday to work with it, – the source said.
Earlier, Suspilne, citing sources in the Presidential Office, reported that the Ukrainian side is currently analyzing the draft financial agreement with the United States on rare earth minerals. The answer was planned to be given in Munich at the meeting with US Vice President Jay De Vance.
Britain imposes new sanctions against Russia
On Friday, February 14, the UK government imposed new sanctions against three Russian individuals and two legal entities. This was reported by the Financial Sanctions Implementation Office of the UK Treasury.
The new sanctions list includes Russian Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Fradkov, the son of former Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika, Artem, and the director of the Federal Service for Technical and Export Control of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Selin.
The list of restrictive measures also includes the Kirov-Energomash plant and Rosatom Additive Technologies.
These individuals and companies were included in the list because of receiving benefits or support from the Russian government by continuing to do business in sectors of strategic importance to the Russian authorities, the agency said.
Zelenskyy: The United States does not have a peace plan to resolve the war yet
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that the United States does not have a ready-made peace plan to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, he said at a press conference with journalists during the Munich Conference.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also said that he had told President Donald Trump that he was ready to talk about ending the war “at any time”.
We are ready to talk about everything. From the contingent, to security guarantees, from NATO, we are in NATO, or NATO is in us. We are ready for any construction to stop Putin. We are open, but we want to act in accordance with international law, in accordance with the law and in accordance with the prevention of future fears or horrors for the whole world of Putin’s return, – Zelenskyy said.
He also added that he already has all the necessary data to conduct such negotiations, and that Ukraine “understands the geography of its own state”, so there is an understanding of where the greatest risks are.
During the conference, Zelenskyy also noted that if Ukraine does not join NATO, Ukraine will need an army of 1.5 million soldiers. In addition, Zelenskyy said that he is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, but he does not plan to meet with Russian representatives there.
I don’t want to meet with Russians just like that. When we talk about the order of meetings, I have already said, first America, then Europe, and then the Russians, – Zelenskyy said.
Russian drone hits sarcophagus of Chornobyl NPP Unit 4
On the night of Friday, February 14, one of the Russian kamikaze drones fired at night across Ukraine hit the sarcophagus of the 4th power unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which protects against radiation. A fire broke out there, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The president released a video showing the moment when an enemy drone hit the sarcophagus of the nuclear power plant. The video shows the explosion and the beginning of the fire. According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the drone was equipped with an explosive warhead.
The shelter at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant was damaged by this drone. The fire was extinguished. Currently, the radiation background has not increased, and this is constantly monitored. According to the first estimates, the damage to the shelter is significant, – Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The IAEA also confirmed the attack on the reactor shelter. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said that the team that was on the territory of the Chornobyl NPP heard a UAV crash into the roof. According to him, the drone attack on the Chornobyl sarcophagus and the increase in military activity around the Zaporizhzhia NPP “emphasize the ongoing risks to nuclear safety”.
According to the State Emergency Service in Kyiv region, after the Russian UAV hit the ChNPP shelter, 0.57 μSv/h was recorded at the industrial site of the nuclear power plant. This figure does not exceed the permissible limit.
During a press conference in Munich, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the drone that hit the Chernobyl nuclear power plant shelter was flying at an altitude of 85 meters, which does not allow air defense radars to detect it. The President suggested that the Russians had attacked the sarcophagus deliberately. The damage to the sarcophagus is currently being monitored.
Kateryna Yashchuk
