Zelensky: Jeddah is serious progress, it will be difficult for Russia to get out of it. It has to demonstrate, if it goes to the end of the war or it wants to continue the war. 1/
Zelensky: If Ukraine has taken ceasefire, it should be unconditional. We support a 30-day ceasefire in order to prepare action plan that will lead to sustainable, just peace.
Let's hope that American side will put pressure on Russia. 2/
Zelensky: The encirclement of the Ukrainian military is Putin's lie. There is no encirclement of the Ukrainian military in the Kursk region.
Russian wants to surround the Ukrainian military in the same direction, but on the territory of Ukraine. 3/
Zelensky: Russia wants to maximize its presence on Ukraine territory. I don't want to argue with any partners. They have intelligence and satellites.
Let them see where Russian troops are concentrated and where they are headed. This is not about peace. 4/
Zelensky: Decision on NATO depends on NATO allies, but certainly not on Russia desire. Especially not on Russia veto on NATO, because they have no legal force and should not be given a pass. 5/
Zelensky: We are ready for unconditional ceasefire for 30 days, as proposed by American side. If Russians don’t agree, it means that they don’t agree with President Trump proposal. 6/
Zelensky: Most important thing is neither America nor anyone should go along with Russian BUT [additional conditions]. The ceasefire shouldn’t go along with BUT. It’s given to the parties as opportunity to demonstrate its desire to end the war, or vice versa. 7/
Zelensky: I would pay attention to March 17 the year before last. When the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin. 8/
Zelensky: In coming days, we will coordinate with the U.S. next steps. We expect that if the Russian view is not in line with President Trump proposal, his position will be clear, tough, and direct in regard to Putin. 9/
Zelensky: It’s very difficult to link the issue of territories to the first step. I wouldn’t recommend it, because it’s a delay in the process. It's a long way to go. 10/
Zelensky: The issue of territory is complicated. It should be resolved later, at the negotiating table. Red lines should be announced immediately. 11/
Zelensky: Let America now force Putin to take the first step, and then we will discuss all the other steps. 12X
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The US public support for Ukraine shows its record: 62% want Ukraine to prevail over Russia, 64% support sending US weapons — up 9 points from last year.
Bipartisan gains: 59% Republicans, 75% Democrats — Reagan Institute. 1/
NATO favorability hits an all-time high at 68%, with strong bipartisan support for Article 5 mutual defense.
Nearly 2/3 say the US military must be sized to win two simultaneous wars — including against Russia and China. 2/
64% say the US should be more engaged and take the lead internationally — including deterring authoritarian aggression in Europe. 3X
Politico reports how Russia keeps raising an army after roughly 1M killed or wounded.
A nationwide market of freelance headhunters now supplies soldiers, strengthens Putin at the table and alarms European governments tracking his growing force. 1/
Over 80 Russia’s regional governments run a recruitment bazaar.
Telegram ads sell frontline contracts with bonuses up to $50,000, debt relief, free childcare and university spots for soldiers’ kids.
In a country with sub-$1,000 monthly wages, cash drives enlistment. 2/
Regions hire HR firms, HR firms hire freelancers. Anyone can become a wartime recruiter. They post ads, screen men, file paperwork and earn $1,280-$3,800 per recruit.
11 regions alone budgeted $25.5M for recruiter payments — the size of local health budgets. 3/
Europe is quietly preparing for a scenario it has avoided saying out loud: that Ukraine may be pushed to accept territorial concessions if it wants the war to end — El País.
Macron, Merz, Rutte, Stubb — Ukraine cannot be left in the hands of the US and Russia. 1/
In Brussels, security envoys from France, Germany, Finland, Italy and the UK met Ukraine’s Umerov.
Several European representatives gave to understand that peace may be impossible without a large part of the sacrifices Russia demands. 2/
Stubb warned his own public to expect an unjust peace and signaled territorial concessions may be part of any deal.
Umerov: The territories Russia wants are protected by Ukraine’s Constitution — and the emotional, political, and security cost would be immense. 3/
NYT: Zelenskyy’s government made Energoatom’s supervisory board unable to function and then blamed the board for not stopping a $100M kickback scheme.
The board was structurally blocked from acting and the government used it as a scapegoat. 1/
The government approved a charter that required 3 votes out of 4 to appoint or dismiss top managers. Then it launched the board with only 4 members and one seat intentionally left vacant.
A 2-2 split format could not change top managers or challenge political deals. 2/
During the year-long delay and the board’s paralysis, investigators say officials siphoned and laundered $100M through Energoatom contracts, with contractors paying 10-15% kickbacks. 3/
UK prepares to transfer £8bn in frozen Russian funds to Ukraine — The Times
EU, Canada and others also are working to unlock a wider £100bn package for Kyiv.
1/
NATO foreign ministers meet in Brussels to discuss releasing frozen Russian assets. The UK forces the EU to unlock €90bn held mainly in Belgium’s Euroclear.
Belgium resists because the sum equals almost one-third of its GDP and could trigger legal claims.
2/
The European Commission proposes using emergency EU powers to seize Russian funds and bypass a Belgian veto.
Brussels calls for a fast decision because Ukraine faces a large funding gap in 2026–2027 and needs money to keep its government running and its army fighting.
3/