Negotiations in Saudi Arabia, resignation of controversial school event organizer: February 18 highlights
In the capital of Saudi Arabia, a meeting took place between U.S. and Russian delegations. The organizer of a school event in Kyiv, where a skit depicting the "beating" of a military recruitment center officer was performed, submitted her resignation. Here are the key news highlights for February 18.
US-Russia negotiations
On February 18, in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, a meeting was held between U.S. and Russian delegations. Bloomberg reported that a Saudi prince had proposed inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the talks, but representatives from the U.S. and Russia insisted on a bilateral meeting.
Following the talks, Russian negotiators stated that the discussions went "fairly well" and that teams from Russia and the U.S. would "in due time" begin contacts regarding Ukraine. Among other agreements, the U.S. and Russia decided to restore the staffing of their embassies in Washington and Moscow, respectively.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the talks in Saudi Arabia, noting that they carried the "same tone" as Russia’s ultimatum at the start of the full-scale invasion. He also postponed his visit to Saudi Arabia to March.
Resignation of controversial Kyiv school event organizer
Natalia, the teacher who organized the controversial event at School No. 309 in Kyiv, where students performed a skit depicting the beating of a military recruitment center officer, resigned.
She apologized for the incident, stating that the performance was not part of the script and that she should have monitored the preparations more closely.
The school's principal, citing the students' explanations, claimed that the skit symbolized the end of the war and Ukraine's victory.
Reuters was broadcasting from Maidan in Kyiv
Reuters conducted a three-hour live stream from Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kyiv, possibly using a camera installed on the roof of the Hotel Ukraina. Head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, Tymur Tkachenko, reported the incident to law enforcement, and the live stream was subsequently stopped.
France to convene another meeting on Ukraine — Reuters
France plans to organize another meeting to discuss Ukraine and European security on Wednesday, February 19. This time, Paris invited European countries that were not included in previous meetings, such as the Czech Republic and Romania, as well as Canada.
Minibus driver who humiliated a military woman suspended
In Kyiv, a minibus driver who insulted and physically assaulted a military servicewoman, Ksenia Ponomariova, was suspended. The woman reported that she has limited vision in one eye due to a previous injury, which slows her movements.
The driver called her a derogatory name and intentionally braked, causing her to fall inside the vehicle.
Other news
- Emmanuel Macron proposed deploying peacekeepers in Ukraine behind the front lines, but four countries refused — Financial Times.
- Boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk plans to earn a Ph.D.
- During the full-scale war, Ukraine has repatriated over 7,000 bodies of fallen soldiers — Coordination Headquarters.
- Some family doctors have moved abroad but remain listed as providers. Their contracts must be terminated, says Health Minister Viktor Lyashko.
- The EU is preparing €6 billion in military aid for Ukraine ahead of peace talks — Politico.
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