As Ukraine enters the fourth year of its war with Russia, uncertainty looms over its support from the United States, as President Trump pushes for a rapid peace deal while sidelining Kyiv.
Ukraine has entered the fourth year of its conflict with Russia, facing mounting uncertainty over support from its key ally, the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump recently criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, describing him as an "unpopular dictator" who should quickly negotiate peace. Zelenskyy countered, calling Trump’s perspective a result of a "disinformation bubble."
In a significant policy shift, U.S. officials held direct talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia last week, excluding Ukraine and European leaders. Washington has made it clear that no U.S. troops will be offered as a security guarantee if a peace deal emerges, placing the burden on Europe, which may struggle without U.S. backing.
Amidst these tensions, Zelenskyy has made over a dozen calls to European leaders since Friday, seeking support and strategising a way forward. European leaders are expected to visit Kyiv to commemorate the anniversary of what has become the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War Two.
On the front lines, Ukrainian troops face a numerically superior opponent while grappling with concerns over potential shifts in U.S. military support. Evhen Kolosov, head medic for Ukraine’s Spartan brigade, described the troops as psychologically worn down after years of relentless fighting.
Former Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said relations with Washington have not yet reached a crisis point, despite Trump’s sharp rhetoric. Klimkin did not anticipate a fair and lasting peace deal this year but suggested there could be progress toward a ceasefire agreement.
Meanwhile, U.S.-Ukraine relations are complicated by ongoing discussions about a deal that could grant the U.S. access to Ukraine's mineral wealth. Trump is reportedly seeking hundreds of billions of dollars in return for past support, while Zelenskyy has refused to sign an initial draft, citing inadequate security guarantees.
Trump has pressed Ukraine to hold a wartime election, echoing Russian claims that Zelenskyy’s mandate is no longer legitimate. Zelenskyy, whose mandate was due to expire last May, expressed willingness to step down if it meant peace, quipping that he could exchange his departure for Ukraine's entry into NATO.
Despite the uncertainty, many Ukrainians continue to rally around Zelenskyy, with his trust ratings remaining above 50% according to recent polls. As one Kyiv resident put it, “Although I did not vote for him, I supported him throughout martial law and will continue to support him.”
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 24th of February, covering the latest developments you need to...
Four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the war is no longer defined by shock but by scale.
Iran has signed a secret €500 million arms deal with Russia to rebuild air defences, weakened during last year’s war with Israel, the Financial Times has reported. The agreement, signed in December in Moscow, will see Russia deliver 500 Verba launch units and 2,500 9M336 missiles over three years.
European Union Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas has said the bloc is unlikely to reach agreement on a new package of sanctions against Russia at Monday’s meeting of EU foreign ministers, as continued Hungarian opposition keeps consensus out of reach.
The United Kingdom Defence Secretary John Healey has said he hopes to be the minister who oversees the deployment of British troops to Ukraine, arguing that such a move would signal the end of Russia’s war.
Italy said a fond farewell to the Winter Olympics on Sunday with an open-air ceremony in the ancient Verona Arena that celebrated art and sporting achievement at a Games lauded as a model for how to stage such events.
The United States and Iran will hold a new round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva on Thursday as part of renewed diplomatic efforts to reach a potential agreement, Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi announced on Sunday.
Further Iran-U.S. nuclear talks are scheduled in Geneva on Thursday (26 February) as diplomacy resumes over Tehran’s nuclear programme following earlier mediation efforts. But will the talks move Iran-U.S. negotiations closer to a deal, and what should be expected from the meeting?
Mexican authorities said on Sunday that Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho and head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was killed during a military operation in the western state of Jalisco.
Syria has secured a $50 million financing package from the World Bank to support transport infrastructure projects as the country advances its economic recovery efforts, Syrian media reported on Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s new 10% global tariffs have come into effect, hours after the Supreme Court blocked many of his sweeping import taxes in a 6–3 ruling. Allies around the world are weighing possible retaliation, while markets brace for further upheaval.
Torrential downpours have triggered deadly mudslides and widespread flooding in southern Peru, leaving at least seventeen people dead - including fifteen killed in a military helicopter crash - as hundreds of districts across the country remain under a state of emergency.
The U.S. ambassador to France, Charles Kushner, has been banned from meeting members of the French government after not showing up at the Foreign Affairs ministry, where he had been summoned over comments on the killing of a French far-right activist last week, diplomatic sources said on Monday.
Thailand and the United States, alongside 28 partner nations, began Southeast Asia’s largest and longest-running military exercise, the 45th Cobra Gold, on Tuesday (24 February) in Rayong province, Thailand.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 24th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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