Skip next section Ukraine rejects US deal on rare earthsFebruary 16, 2025
Ukraine rejects US deal on rare earthsUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he told his ministers not to sign a proposed agreement that would have enabled the US to access rare earth minerals from Ukraine that are used in the aerospace, defense and nuclear industries.
“I didn’t let the ministers sign a relevant agreement because in my view it is not ready to protect us, our interest,” Zelenskyy told The Associated Press on Saturday in Munich.
The proposal was one focus of Zelenskyy’s talks with US Vice President JD Vance on the sidelines of the conference on Friday.
Ukrainian sources said the proposed deal envisioned the US accessing Ukraine’s rare earth minerals to compensate Washington for previous, current and future aid to Kyiv.
White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said in a statement that “President
Zelenskyy is being short-sighted about the excellent opportunity the Trump Administration has presented to Ukraine.”
The statement added that Washington believes that “binding economic ties with the United States will be the best guarantee against future aggression and an integral part of lasting peace.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4qXam
Skip next section ICYMI: The main headlines from SaturdayFebruary 16, 2025
ICYMI: The main headlines from SaturdaySaturday, the second day of the conference, was marked by reactions to the divisive speech given by US Vice President JD Vance and attempts to show European unity in backing Ukraine.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected Vance’s calls to work with the far right and stressed the importance of Ukraine’s involvement in any peace deal after Trump’s bilateral call with Putin Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed Europe’s role in defending itself against Russia and called for the establishment of a European army European top diplomats and US special envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg took part in a DW-run townhall on ‘A plan for Ukraine’ Kellog said it was important to talk to Putin to end the war, but said it was too early to say when Trump’s ‘peace plan’ would be ready Scholz: Europe will support Ukraine ‘as long as it takes’ To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/4qXar
Skip next section Welcome back to the final day of the Munich Security Conference coverageFebruary 16, 2025
Welcome back to the final day of the Munich Security Conference coverageTimothy Jones | Alex Berry
This year’s Munich Security Conference (MSC) has already seen two eventful days, with clear rifts appearing between the US and its European partners, especially over the question of how to end the war in Ukraine.
Sunday is the last day of the conference, with several events running until the early afternoon. We will keep you up-to-date with the major headlines and reactions.
https://p.dw.com/p/4qXan
Skip next section Munich Security Conference to continue SundayFebruary 16, 2025
Munich Security Conference to continue SundayWe’re pausing our live coverage; thanks for following along. We will have further coverage of the Munich Security Conference on Sunday, the final day of the event.
https://p.dw.com/p/4qXW9
Skip next section Ukrainian and Chinese foreign ministers discuss peace planFebruary 16, 2025
Ukrainian and Chinese foreign ministers discuss peace planZac Crellin | Wesley Dockery
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha discussed a potential peace plan with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday.
Ukrainian presidential advisor Andrii Yermak was also present at the meeting.
“We met with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi together with Andriy Yermak to reaffirm mutual respect for territorial integrity,” Sybiha said on social media.
“We discussed the development of bilateral relations and trade. We also shared Ukraine’s vision of the path to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace.”
Earlier, on Friday, Wang told the Munich Security Conference that China believes all stakeholders in the Russia-Ukraine conflict should participate in the peace talks.
https://p.dw.com/p/4qXUo
Skip next section Fundamental rift between US and EU opens up in MunichFebruary 16, 2025
Fundamental rift between US and EU opens up in MunichDelegates were shocked by US Vice President JD Vance’s speech at the Munich Security ConferenceImage: Leah Millis/REUTERSAt the Munich Security Conference, the “shared values” so frequently invoked by Europeans were called into question by US Vice President JD Vance. So do the US and Europe still speak the same language?
Read more of DW’s analysis from the MSC here.
https://p.dw.com/p/4qXUu
Skip next section MSC: Can China replace US as world leader?February 15, 2025
MSC: Can China replace US as world leader?Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Munich Security Conference 2025Image: Sven Hoppe/AP Photo/picture allianceAs Donald Trump is taking the US out of international forums, China is expected to move into the gap. But is Beijing capable of replacing the US? And does it even want to?
Read more of DW’s analysis from the MSC here.
https://p.dw.com/p/4qXPx
Skip next section Rubio stresses US commitment to end Ukraine war in Lavrov callFebruary 15, 2025
Rubio stresses US commitment to end Ukraine war in Lavrov callUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed to Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov Washington’s commitment to ending the war in Ukraine, the US State Department said.
The two top diplomats spoke on the phone, while European leaders and top diplomats discussed the future of Ukraine at the Munich Security Conference, which Rubio also attended.
“The secretary reaffirmed President Trump’s commitment to finding an end to the conflict in Ukraine,” US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement. “In addition, they discussed the opportunity to potentially work together on a number of other bilateral issues.”
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the pair expressed a “mutual willingness for cooperation on topical international issues, including the settlement around Ukraine, the situation around Palestine and the whole of the Middle East, as well as other regional areas.”
“They agreed on regular contacts, including for the preparation of a Russian-American summit meeting on a high level,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said. Trump said he will meet Putin in Saudi Arabia, after the two leaders spoke on the phone earlier this week.
https://p.dw.com/p/4qXOA
Skip next section Kellogg says US can win concessions from Putin, in DW panelFebruary 15, 2025
Kellogg says US can win concessions from Putin, in DW panel Speaking at a Munich Security Conference panel, run by DW’s Conflict Zone and dedicated to the situation in Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, the United States special envoy, emphasized the US’s determination to end the war in Ukraine.
He said that talks aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine could focus on targeting Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s oil revenues.
“Russia is really a petrostate,” Kellogg said, adding that Western powers need to do more to effectively enforce sanctions against Russia. He stressed that Putin could have to make territorial concessions.
However, it is too early to say when US President Donald Trump’s plan for Ukraine will be ready, as the Trump administration has only been in power for 25 days, Kellogg said.
Still, it is important to engage Russian President Vladimir Putin in talks to end the war between Ukraine and Russia, he added. “Whether you like it or not, you have to talk to adversaries,” said Kellogg.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said there was a “very simple recipe for how to end the war — leadership of the United States”.
He also added that his country was ready to discuss “deeply” with the United States how to proceed in ending the war with Russia, and that transatlantic and Ukrainian security were indivisible.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stressed that the EU must provide money for common defense, adding that it would not be fair if border countries had to pay more.
And Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene said the EU could do more to support Ukraine. “If we are prepared for an imperialist war, this is our only chance to avoid it,” she said.
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