Brussels

The Hungarian prime minister sent a letter to the head of the European Council with a proposal to hold direct talks with Russia on Ukraine. Orban believes that the EU should follow the example of the United States in achieving peace.

The European Union is developing the largest regional security initiative since the Cold War. The plan includes hundreds of billions of euros for defense and consists of three key funding elements.

European Council President Antonio Costa invites Zelenskyy to Brussels for a special meeting on European defense. The meeting will begin at 12:30 with a discussion of security guarantees for Ukraine.

European officials are developing proposals to create a special defense fund to increase military investment. They are considering a “rearmament bank” and a special targeted instrument with a budget of 500 billion euros.

CDU/CSU leader Friedrich Merz made his first foreign visit to Paris to meet with Macron. The conservative bloc won 208 seats in the Bundestag, but this is not enough to form a government.

UKASKO representatives took part in meetings with European officials and financial institutions in Brussels. The delegation discussed digital transformation and the implementation of insurtech solutions in the financial sector.

The EU foreign policy chief said that NATO membership is the strongest and cheapest security guarantee for Ukraine. She emphasized the irreversibility of Ukraine's path to the Alliance and praised the Ukrainian army as the strongest in Europe.

EU foreign ministers decide to suspend sanctions against Syria in the banking, energy and transportation sectors. Five Syrian organizations were removed from the list of frozen assets.

A massive rally in support of Ukraine was held on Prague's Old Town Square with the participation of President Petr Pavel. Similar rallies were also held in Brno and Brussels, and one in Pilsen is scheduled for February 24.

NATO's Senior Representative to Ukraine, Patrick Turner, has stated the need to prevent the signing of the Minsk-3 agreement. The Alliance has provided more than €50 billion in military aid to Ukraine and is calling on European allies to increase their support.

Peter Szijjarto said that Hungary would not support the extension of EU sanctions against Russians and Belarusians. Budapest also opposes the €20 billion aid package for Ukraine, considering it an obstacle to peace.

Latvian President Rinkēvičs said he was ready to discuss sending troops to Ukraine under certain conditions. The key issues are strengthening Latvia's security and clear rules for the military's stay in Ukraine.

The United States may include automatic NATO membership for Ukraine as a security guarantee in case Russia violates the peace agreement. This was reported by NBC News with reference to four US officials.

EU Ambassador Katarina Mathernová stated that the partnership between Ukraine and the EU is stable, regardless of changes in relations with the United States. She emphasized that Ukraine's future lies in the EU, and the EU remains a reliable partner.

27 EU countries have agreed on the 16th package of sanctions against Russia, targeting the aluminum industry and oil exports. The restrictions will affect 13 banks, 73 shadow fleet tankers and Russian aluminum products.

The second round of the EU-Ukraine security and defense dialogue took place in Brussels. Military-technical partnership, defense innovations and coordination of military assistance were discussed.

EU countries plan to provide Ukraine with military aid worth 6 to 10bn euros. The package includes artillery shells and air defense systems and may be presented by 24 February.

Ursula von der Leyen met with US Representative Keith Kellogg in Brussels to discuss support for Ukraine. The EU has provided €135 billion in aid, including €52 billion in military aid.

EU ambassadors will discuss providing Ukraine with additional military aid worth €5 billion. The aid will include artillery ammunition, air defense systems, missiles, and support for Ukrainian army brigades.

The US has sent European countries a request for detailed proposals for weapons and troops for Ukraine. The State Department wants to determine Europe's readiness to defend Kyiv after a peaceful settlement.

The President of Ukraine met with the NATO Secretary General on the sidelines of the Munich Conference. The parties discussed coordination with the Alliance and Ukraine's defense needs.

A senior US official, John Cole, said that the United States has not ruled out Ukraine's potential membership in NATO or a negotiated return to its borders by 2014, contradicting comments made this week by the U. S. Defense Secretary ahead of possible peace talks to end the war in Ukraine.

The US Secretary of Defense said that peace for Ukraine requires reliable security guarantees, but not in the Minsk 3. 0 format. NATO membership is not currently seen as a realistic option for a settlement.

The United States does not plan to send its troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees. Instead, it is proposed to involve European and non-European troops, but not under the auspices of NATO.

During the Ramstein meeting, Pete Hagseth stated that it was unrealistic to return Ukraine to the 2014 borders. According to him, such a goal would only prolong the war.

The regular meeting of the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine has begun in Brussels. The meeting was chaired for the first time by the UK Defense Minister John Healey, and the new head of the Pentagon, Pete Hageseth, is also present.

Pete Hughes arrives at NATO headquarters in Brussels and speaks of the need to strengthen the Alliance. The US Secretary of Defense will participate in the Ramstein meeting, which is being convened by the UK for the first time.

The Minister of Defense of Ukraine takes part in a meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defense in Brussels. They discuss arms supplies for 2025 and the development of the defense industry in Ukraine.

U. S. Defense Secretary Pete Hagel will attend the Ramstein-NATO meeting in Brussels, but no announcements on new weapons for Ukraine are expected. It is worth noting that this is the first time that the UK, not the US, has convened the Ramstein meeting.

The Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, spoke about Russia's attempts to move towards Kyiv and the threat to the whole of Europe. He emphasized that the aggressor can only be stopped through the power of unity and consolidated pressure.