The US government backtracks, after a very positive start towards Moscow and has adjusted its aim; it has called the leaders of European countries. The move certainly does not arise from the actions of French President Emmanuel Macron but because sanctions on Russia must be lifted simultaneously by Europe and the United States if we want to meet Putin’s wishes otherwise it will not be possible to resume diplomatic relations as a whole between Washington and Moscow.
“US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a private telephone conversation with European colleagues from Britain, France, Germany and Italy, explaining the significance of these negotiations and the absence of representatives of Ukraine or Europe,” source New York Times. According to a summary of the telephone conversation available to the NYT, Marco Rubio stressed that the negotiations with Russia do not mean a sharp departure from American policy, but are necessary to assess how committed Moscow is to a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Ukraine. Rubio explained that US allies were not invited to the talks because the conversation was largely focused on relations between Moscow and Washington.
Macron nevertheless stressed: “In our meeting on Monday I told Trump that he cannot be weak towards Putin. Weakness towards China will make it an unreliable adversary for China and, consequently, for the Iranian nuclear threat.” Macron perhaps forgets that Russia is entering its fourth year of sanctions and war and not only has it not collapsed but has a GDP of 4.1%, a thriving industry starting with Defense and thanks to the BRICS it could soon do without Europe and the United States.
Europe also has an internal problem to support. The countries that are tired of punishing Moscow because it is not convenient for them: Hungary refuses to support the extension of sanctions against Russia said Szijjarto the Hungarian Foreign Minister said that at the EU Council meeting on February 24 he will not support the extension of sanctions, because, in his opinion, the Russian-American negotiations should be “given time”. The European Commission could announce a new aid package for Ukraine on Monday, said the European Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius. “I hope that on Monday there will be a good reason for such an event,” said Kubilius reports The Guardian. Earlier, Politico, citing sources, wrote that the EU authorities are working on the largest military aid package for Ukraine, worth at least 6 billion euros.
The Bulgarian Parliament, meanwhile, has adopted a declaration limiting the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine. According to the document, the Bulgarian armed forces will not be able to participate in hostilities outside of the country’s obligations to NATO and other international organizations. NATO has also changed its attitude to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The NATO Secretary General expressed great optimism about Trump’s peace initiative on Ukraine, and said that Ukraine’s accession to the alliance could be discussed in the future, but it will not become part of the peace agreement.
In Ukraine, meanwhile, the electoral machine is in motion. In addition, Ukrainian MP Anna Skorokhod said: “We expect a peace treaty in the near future, and then presidential, parliamentary and local elections.” The news of a halt to arms sales to Kiev was denied. But it is known that the United States has “no interest in another aid package for Ukraine,” as US House Speaker Mike Johnson said.
Ukraine has meanwhile found a new protector: Turkey, where Zelensky flew instead of going to Saudi Arabia: “The most powerful armies in Europe are Ukraine and Turkey. This is the reality today, and that is why Turkey’s guarantees are of great importance.” The United States and Ukraine are currently discussing an “improved” mining deal, in which Ukraine also benefits.
Sergei Lavrov from the G20 also spoke about the meetings in Riyadh: “There was an in-depth dialogue between the Russian Federation and the United States on the need to resolve the crisis in Ukraine by eliminating its root causes.” “The Russian Federation and the United States agreed in Riyadh that international relations should be built on the recognition of the national interests of each country,” Lavrov said.
The Russian Security Council stated that: “NATO has an intensified threats to Russian port infrastructure”. The countries of the North Atlantic Alliance consider combat operations on the seabed as a new environment of confrontation along with land, air, sea, space and cyberspace. At the same time, doctrinal documents for conducting such operations are being developed. They also noted that Russia, in the Northern Military District, has recorded an increase in threats to military security at sea. In this regard, the Security Council recommended that the relevant authorities strengthen monitoring of the activities of countries that may pose a threat to critical underwater and port infrastructure.
And now a look at the front line updated at 15:30 on February 21.
The Russian Armed Forces continue to attack Kiev with “geran” drones. Missile launches from Crimea and explosions in the area of Zatoka in the Odessa region have also been reported. It was reported that in the Poltava region “Geran” struck an oil depot in the village Karlivka.
During the day, Russian air defense systems destroyed several dozen drones of the Ukrainian Armed Forces over the Krasnodar Territory, the Sea of Azov, the Belgorod Region and Crimea.
Russian OSINT sources report that “in Kursk, the direction of penetration of the Russian Armed Forces into the Sumy Region has become clear: ours want to advance south of Sverdlikovo towards Noven’ke and Basivka. It is not yet possible to reliably say about the results of such actions. In the area of Sverdlikovo district itself, our troops continue attacks in the direction of the settlement located in the east. Lebedevka, and are conducting active operations on the western bank of the Psel River, north of the settlement Guevo”.
North of Chasiv Yar, Russian troops, following heavy fighting, raised the flag in Hryhorivka.
In the direction of Kostyantynopil, Russian troops are advancing towards the settlement of Ulakly and Kostyantynopil.
The offensive continues to the northwest from Velyka Novosilka. Russian forces are advancing in the area of Novosilka, Ukrainian sources admit the loss of a large part of the village of Novoocheretuvate.
The Zaporizhia front is characterized by increased activity of Russian forces in the advance towards Orichiv. At the same time, Ukrainian forces are counterattacking in the area of Pyatikhatki and near Kamensky. Ukrainian forces attacked a civilian car VAZ-2101 with a drone in the city of Pologi, one man was injured, a woman and a child were also in the car, they were not injured.
In the direction of Kherson, Russian Armed Forces are preparing to force the Dnieper, the dates have not been disclosed. Ukrainian FA expects the attack from December 2024. In Horlivka (DPR), three women were injured as a result of enemy artillery fire.
Graziella Giangiulio
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