First day of Munich Security Conference, Russian attack on Chornobyl nuclear plant - Friday brief
RBC-Ukraine collage
The Munich Security Conference 2025 started in Germany. Meanwhile, Russia attacked the shelter of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant with an attack drone.
Read more about what happened on Friday, February 14.
First day of the Munich conference
The Munich Security Conference 2025 started in Germany on Friday, February 14. The conference will last three days, and the topic of the war in Ukraine and possible peace will be one of the main topics. The delegations of Ukraine and the United States met on the sidelines of Munich.
Read more about the first day of the Munich Security Conference in RBC-Ukraine's report.
We have also reported the main statements by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US Vice President JD Vance at the Munich conference.
Russians hit sarcophagus of Chornobyl nuclear power plant with drone
Yesterday, February 14, Russia attacked the shelter at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant (Chornobyl NPP) with a drone.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Russian drone that attacked the sarcophagus at the Chornobyl NPP was flying at an altitude of 85 meters, which is why it could not be detected by radar.
After the Russian drone hit the Chornobyl shelter, there is a possibility of radioactive substances being released. But no excess of the radiation background has been recorded so far.
Read more about the consequences of the Russian attack on the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in RBC-Ukraine's article.
Zelenskyy ready to meet with Putin only under one condition
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is willing to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He will do so once Ukraine develops a joint plan with US leader Donald Trump and Europe.
"There may be some disinformation. Maybe Russians or somebody else raise it up. Such things destroy our unity. For example, I will make an official visit to Saudi Arabia. but also to the Emirates, to Turkiye. I have planned visits and important dialogues there. We have our mission," Zelenskyy explained.
He noted that this country has helped Ukraine with the return of Ukrainian children from Russia.
"I will not meet with Russians, it's not in my plan. I will meet only with one Russian guy - Putin, and only after we have a common plan with Trump, Europe. And we'll sit with Putin and stop the war. Only in this case I'm ready to meet," the president emphasized.
Ukraine's Forces destroy enemy stronghold in Kursk region used to launch drones
Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed an enemy stronghold in the Kursk region, which was used by Russia to launch drones against Ukraine.
According to the General Staff, on February 13, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out a precision strike on an enemy military facility near the village of Yelizavetovka in Russia's Kursk region.
Europe believes it can provide up to 25,000 peacekeepers for Ukraine - Welt
Europe believes it can provide up to 25,000 soldiers for a possible peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. At the same time, the military expects that about 120,000 soldiers will be needed.
NATO also doubts that Europeans will be able to provide peacekeeping forces for Ukraine on their own.
“The Europeans cannot rely on the fact that possible coalition troops, for example, from Bangladesh, India or Ethiopia, will not run away when the situation becomes serious,” a general from a NATO country told the newspaper.
Welt's military sources indicate that the lower limit of the peacekeeping force should be about 120,000 soldiers. Since the troops are supposed to be rotated, about 40,000 troops will be deployed at a time.
At the same time, EU military officials expect that the Europeans will be able to provide a maximum of 25,000 soldiers.
It also remains unclear what powers the peacekeeping troops will have. Several high-ranking military officials told the agency that such a stabilization mission would be meaningless if soldiers were not given the right to intervene with heavy weapons.
Ukraine passes draft partnership memorandum to the US
Ukraine finalized a partnership agreement with the United States on rare earth metals. The draft memorandum was handed over to the American side.
During a phone call on Wednesday, presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump agreed that Ukraine would finalize the draft memorandum of partnership and hand it over to the American side.
“Ukraine handed over the document and the American side asked for time until 5 p.m. to work it out,” the Ukrainian delegation said.
