US and Russia begin contacts for peace in Ukraine: What are the latest developments? Will the war continue?

Compiled by: Suat TEKİN - 12punto.com.tr

It has been announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump will meet 'in the near future' in Saudi Arabia. While Trump reported that he had a phone call with Putin lasting nearly 3 hours, he noted that the Russian leader 'wants to bring peace immediately.' Kremlin sources confirmed the conversation between the two leaders. Stating that European leaders were 'not invited' to the peace talks, Trump added that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would be present at the meetings. Following all these developments, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that they would hold an emergency summit with European leaders to discuss 'Ukraine and Trump' issues.

European countries have made statements indicating that the war in Ukraine must continue. British Defense Secretary John Healey argued that 'peace through strength' must come to Ukraine, suggesting that the Kyiv administration must be supported against Russia. Following this statement, the UK supplied advanced Gravehawk air defense systems to Ukraine.

Gravehawk air defense systems were delivered to the Ukrainian army in Kyiv

After British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French leader Macron underscored that they would 'do their part' to support Ukraine, Zelenskyy stated that he does not plan to meet with Putin for peace. The US demand for Ukraine's mineral deposits as 'war reparations' was also rejected by the Kyiv administration.

In a statement on his social media account, Zelenskyy announced that he had gone to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to hold official contacts. He stated that they would address issues of prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine, investment, economic cooperation, and humanitarian aid in the UAE.

According to Trump's claim, 700 thousand Ukrainian and 850 thousand Russian soldiers have lost their lives in the Ukraine War. Zelenskyy responded to Trump on his social media account, claiming that their military losses were less than 50 thousand

TRUMP'S UKRAINE POLICY

US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz claimed that his country should receive repayment in exchange for the financial support it provides to Ukraine. Stating that the US has carried a heavy burden during the Russia-Ukraine War process, Waltz reported that the resources offered by Ukraine should provide an advantage to Washington.

Making statements on the Fox News Sunday program, Waltz expressed that it would be a smart move for Zelenskyy to accept an agreement that envisions transferring half of his country's rare earth elements to the US. In a statement on February 3, Trump emphasized that they want to purchase rare earth elements from Ukraine and that the support provided to Ukraine should not be one-sided.

Trump and Waltz reminded in their statements yesterday (February 16) that they would stop military aid if Ukraine does not accept the mining agreement. On the other hand, Trump shared information that European countries could purchase weapons from the US to help Ukraine and provide them to the Kyiv administration.

Ukraine is known as the country with Europe's richest critical mineral and rare element deposits. Russia has seized approximately half of the mineral resources in Ukraine

TALKS BETWEEN RUSSIAN AND US OFFICIALS

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call to discuss relations between the two countries and developments in Ukraine and Palestine. In a statement made by the Russian Foreign Ministry, it was announced that the call was made at the request of the US and that both sides agreed to keep communication channels open.

Rubio, Waltz, and Trump's Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff are going to Saudi Arabia to find a solution to the Russia-Ukraine war. According to information reflected in the American media, the delegation will begin talks in the coming days.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Trump had announced in a recent statement that a meeting would be organized in Saudi Arabia to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. High-level officials from the US, Russia, and Ukraine are planned to attend the meetings.

Speaking to CNN on condition of anonymity, two US officials stated that a high-level negotiation team from Russia would participate in the talks. It was stated that Kirill Dmitriev, who played an important role in prisoner exchange agreements between the US and Russia, could also be in this team.

However, no official statement has been made regarding which names from the Russian side will participate. US officials conveyed that the talks would begin in the coming days but that no exact date has been given.

French President Emmanuel Macron

EMERGENCY SUMMIT IN FRANCE

It was announced that Macron would hold a summit in Paris on February 17 with the participation of European leaders, with Ukraine and the US on the agenda. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslav Sikorski, in his speech at the Munich Security Conference, supported Macron and stated that European countries should seriously evaluate Trump's policies.

It was stated that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte would attend the summit.

After Trump stated that he would impose customs duties on the European Union (EU) and wanted to start the peace process in Ukraine, Macron called on European countries to establish an army. Advocating the idea of a 'European Army' since the 2010s, Macron announced that the summit would discuss protecting Ukraine.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan

HAKAN FİDAN MET WITH UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS

Additionally, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov within the scope of the Munich Security Conference held in Germany. It was noted that cooperation between the two countries and regional security issues were discussed during the meeting.

On the other hand, it was suggested that Zelenskyy, who is making visits to hold contacts in the Middle East, could come to Turkey after his Saudi Arabia trip. In reports in the Turkish press, it was suggested that the Ukrainian leader, who spoke at the Munich Security Conference, is expected to visit Ankara or Istanbul to meet with Erdoğan, 'although the date is not certain.'