Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to make a surprise visit to Berlin this Wednesday, where he will meet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss ways to revive stalled peace talks with Russia, according to Der Spiegel.
Merz plans to use the meeting to outline next steps toward technical-level negotiations and update Zelenskyy on a new EU sanctions package aimed at pressuring Moscow into serious discussions. Zelenskyy will also meet German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during his visit.
The unannounced trip reflects European efforts to sustain momentum in bringing Ukraine and Russia back to the negotiating table. Military support for Ukraine is also expected to be a key point, with Germany quietly preparing to assist Ukraine’s defense industry, including in the production of long-range weapons, even as public statements about arms shipments remain cautious.
For Chancellor Merz, this meeting signals his ongoing commitment to achieving a ceasefire. Shortly after taking office, Merz joined French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on a visit to Kyiv, aiming to build pressure on Russia to agree to a 30-day truce as a first step toward peace talks.
Meanwhile, European leaders continue trying to keep U.S. President Donald Trump involved in the process, but with mixed results. During the Kyiv visit, Macron made an impromptu call to Trump, who initially supported tougher sanctions on Russia and urged swift negotiations. However, days later, after a phone conversation between Trump and Putin, the sanctions talk disappeared.
As diplomatic efforts falter, Russian military activity is intensifying sharply. Over the past week, Ukraine’s Air Force reported at least 1,390 drone attacks and 94 missile strikes targeting cities and military sites across the country. These assaults have killed at least 30 civilians and injured more than 160—marking the heaviest air raids since the war began. Notably, a Russian strike on Sunday killed 12 people just hours before a prisoner exchange, highlighting the ongoing volatility.
Zelenskyy’s visit comes at a critical moment, underscoring the difficult balance between diplomatic efforts and the harsh realities of escalating conflict on the ground.
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Indonesia and the United States have finalised a trade agreement lowering U.S. tariffs on Indonesian goods to 19% from 32%, with exemptions secured for palm oil and several other major exports.
Iran has warned it will respond “decisively” if subjected to military aggression, saying U.S. President Donald Trump’s rhetoric signals “a real risk of military aggression”.
Ukraine could export several billion dollars of military equipment and services this year after authorising its first wartime foreign sales, a senior government official said. The country is also considering introducing a tax on arms exports.
The U.S. government has signed an agreement with Uzbekistan to secure better access to the Central Asian country's critical minerals, as U.S. President Donald Trump moves to counter China's dominance of crucial resources and their supply chains.
Israel is preparing for the possibility of receiving a green light from the United States to launch strikes against Iran’s ballistic missile system, according to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN.
Aghdam’s Qarabag FK experienced a 6–1 defeat to England’s Newcastle United in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off tie in Azerbaijan's capital Baku Wednesday evening (18 February).
U.S. President Donald Trump’s 'Board of Peace' will hold its first leaders’ meeting on Thursday (19 February) in Washington, D.C., launching an initiative aimed at stabilising Gaza and addressing global conflicts. It's drawn support from regional powers but refusals from several EU countries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez in the Kremlin on Wednesday, telling him that new restrictions imposed on the communist-run island were unacceptable.
A new freight corridor linking China with Tajikistan via Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan has entered pilot operation, marking another step in Central Asia’s expanding transport connectivity.
Hungary will release 250,000 tonnes of crude oil from its strategic reserves following a halt in flows on the Druzhba pipeline. The decision was announced in a government decree published late on Thursday.
Indonesia and the United States have finalised a trade agreement lowering U.S. tariffs on Indonesian goods to 19% from 32%, with exemptions secured for palm oil and several other major exports.
Sixty-five-year-old Halyna Popriadukhina has fled her home three times as Russian troops have marched deeper into eastern Ukraine during four years of war. Tired of running, she hopes Ukraine can somehow hold them back.
The United States has paid about $160 million of the more than $4 billion it owes to the United Nations, a UN spokesperson said on Thursday. The payment came as U.S. President Donald Trump hosted the first meeting of his 'Board of Peace' initiative, which experts say could undermine the UN.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un opened the ruling Workers’ Party congress by hailing the past five years as a period of significant progress, while setting out new economic and political goals amid scrutiny over military plans and possible succession signals.
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