Ukraine
Wayne Seretis
Updated 14.19 | Published 2025-02-21 13.50
Here are the biggest events from yesterday.
FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY
Trump changes his mind – Putin started the war
This week, President Donald Trump claimed that Ukraine started the war in its own homeland, when in fact it was Russia that launched the invasion back in 2014. The full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022.
On Friday, Trump retracted his claim in a radio interview that Reuters reports. In the interview, Trump admits that Russia started the war on the orders of President Vladimir Putin.
Russia plans to declare victory
On Friday, Ukraine's GUR intelligence service said that Putin plans to declare victory in the war against Ukraine on Monday, on the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion. Given that the war is still in full swing, the plans raise questions about what was actually said between the United States and Russia, whose foreign ministers met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
Right-wing media pressure Trump
Two normally loyal Trump media outlets are unhappy with the president's statement about who started the war. The New York Post published an editorial on its front page with the text "Don't forget Russian brutality." In the editorial, the newspaper writes that “Trump has a chance to end the war, to stop the killing. Maybe even win the Nobel Peace Prize.” if he sticks to the truth.
Fox News host Brian Kilmeade also pressed the president hard about his statements, and among other things got Trump to back down in his rhetoric about who started the war.
New giant package from the EU
According to information to the newspaper Politico, the EU is planning a gigantic aid package for Ukraine worth over 220 billion kronor. This is twice as large as previous information has claimed.
The EU has come under fire after the increasingly tough American moves against Ukraine and Europe, but also Trump’s rapprochement with Putin.
Since Hungary is expected to oppose the proposal, the EU package will likely be organized in the form of contributions from the EU countries that want to participate.
Zelensky wants Europe to do more
In his daily speech published on social media, President Zelensky said on Friday that “Europe must and can do much more to ensure that peace can truly be achieved”.
He believes that Europe now has clear proposals and is an important partner together with the US in order to achieve peace.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson writes on X after a phone call with Zelensky that “no decisions on Ukraine should be made without Ukraine. No decisions on Europe without Europe. Our support for Ukraine is strong”.
”Russian aggression” deleted from Trump's UN-resolution
The US has submitted its own UN resolution ahead of the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Unlike the European draft, there is no mention of occupied territories or Russian aggression.
In addition, according to TT, Russia has included its own wording on the “conflict” in the American draft, that it must “address its root causes”.
Monday’s vote in the UN General Assembly is not legally binding.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20
US envoy cancels press conference
Trump’s “dictator” attack significantly lowered expectations ahead of Thursday’s meeting in the Ukrainian capital between US peace envoy Keith Kellogg and Zelensky. Earlier in the day, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant claimed that Zelensky had agreed to an agreement in which the US would gain access to Ukrainian minerals worth approximately SEK 5,500 billion, an agreement that Ukraine has not signed.
In the afternoon, the US cancelled Keith Kellogg’s planned press conference in Kiev, a decision that raised concerns that the relationship between the US and Ukraine was on the verge of collapse.
Zelenskyy opens up for security agreement
On Thursday, President Zelenskyy unexpectedly opened up for a security agreement, writing on X:
"Ukraine is ready for a strong, effective investment and security agreement with the President of the United States. We have proposed the fastest and most constructive path to achieving results. Our team is ready to work around the clock".
The turnaround has reawakened hope for peace in Europe.
Svantesson's concerns about NATO
The Trump administration's chaotic behavior is causing concern in the Swedish government. On Thursday, Sweden's Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson (M) said that there is "tremendous unpredictability from the American administration" and said that one cannot be sure that the US will honor Article 5, i.e. the common defense guarantees.
Later, she takes it back on X:
"We have a credible Article 5 in NATO. I note that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been clear in his message that the United States is committed to building a stronger NATO.”
The United States cools expectations
The positive mood after Zelenskyy’s statement overshadows Thursday night’s less conciliatory statement from Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz.
He is furious with Zelenskyy’s comments about Trump.
“They need to tone it down, think hard and sign that agreement,” Waltz told Fox News.
The adviser is referring to the agreement on minerals worth about 5,500 billion kronor. He believes that the United States has already given Ukraine the best deal they can imagine.
“It’s because we offered the Ukrainians a truly incredible and historic opportunity to have the United States of America as a co-investor in Ukraine, invest in their economy and give Ukraine the best security guarantees they could ever dream of, much more than another pallet of ammunition,” Waltz says.
The world is skeptical
In Britain, people are not impressed by the development. There is great concern that Putin is cheating Trump, at the expense of Ukraine and Europe.
– We have not come a single step closer to a negotiated solution to the war. From Lavrov's comments after the G20 meeting, it is clear that there is no desire for peace among the Russians, says British Foreign Secretary David Lammy to Reuters.
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