Here are the key developments on the 1,096th day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine:
On the third anniversary of the start of the war, here is the current situation:
Fighting:
- The Russian Ministry of Defence announced that they have taken control of Ulakly and Novoandriivka in eastern Ukraine.
- Ukraine is developing a domestic alternative to the US Patriot air defense system according to a statement by President Zelenskyy.
- Social media footage has shown a Russian soldier executing a Ukrainian prisoner in Kursk Oblast according to the Institute for the Study of War.
- Protests were held in various countries, including the US, France, Turkey, Greece, and Taiwan, to mark the third anniversary of the war.
Politics and diplomacy:
- On the eve of the anniversary, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russian soldiers are fighting for national interests and vowed to continue strengthening the armed forces.
- Putin also stated that God and fate entrusted him and the Russian army to defend the country.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted that Russia will never give up captured Ukrainian territories, claiming that the people had chosen to join Russia.
- Peskov also expressed understanding towards former US President Donald Trump’s hostility towards Zelenskyy, blaming the latter for making “inappropriate remarks” against Trump.
- Zelenskyy’s top aide Andriy Yermak declared that Kyiv could not compromise on independence, territorial integrity, or sovereignty.
- White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump was “very confident” that the war would end this week.
- Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko revealed that the Russia-occupied regions of the country hold approximately $350 billion worth of critical rare earth minerals.
- According to Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, North Korea fulfills 50% of Russia’s ammunition needs for the war.
- Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s Defense Minister, said that the country is looking for alternatives to Starlink satellite internet service, amid rumors that the US may revoke access to Kyiv.
- Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff stated that the US expects to sign an agreement for rare earths with Kyiv this week.
- Zelenskyy expressed his willingness to step down as president if it ensured Ukraine’s entry into NATO. “If there is peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I am ready,” he stated.
Zelenskyy also challenged the idea that Kyiv owes Washington $500 billion for past aid and argued that the US provided $100 billion in aid to Ukraine over the past three years. He emphasized that a proposed minerals deal could not work if the US demanded repayment for that aid. Furthermore, he suggested that deploying American soldiers to Ukraine would be logical if the bilateral minerals deal included security guarantees.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/24/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-24?traffic_source=rss
