Kyiv says Russia 'must pay price' for Avdiivka

TASS news agency quoted a report released by the Russian Ministry of Defense on the afternoon of February 18 saying that the country's army had established full control over Avdiivka in Ukraine and had advanced 8.6 km in that frontline.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the area controlled by the country in Avdiivka is 31.75 ^km2 and Ukraine lost another 1,500 soldiers on February 17 and 18.

Kyiv has announced the withdrawal of its troops from Avdiivka. The victory in Avdiivka is Russia's biggest victory since capturing the city of Bakhmut, also in Donetsk Oblast, in May 2023, and after nearly two years since the two countries started a full-scale conflict.

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However, Russia said some Ukrainian troops were still holed up in a large coke plant in the city. Moscow also described Kyiv's withdrawal as "hasty and chaotic", leaving behind some troops and weapons.

In response, the Ukrainian military confirmed that there had been minimal casualties among its soldiers. However, Ukrainian military spokesman Dmytro Lykhoviy said that the situation had somewhat stabilized on the eastern front of Avdiivka following the decision to withdraw troops on February 17.

Ukrainian soldiers set up barricades to block Russian troops in Avdiivka on January 17.

Regarding Russia's losses in Avdiivka, Ukrinform news agency quoted Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavsky, Commander of Kyiv's Tavria operational force, as saying that the Ukrainian defense army over the past four months has caused Russia losses of up to 47,186 troops, 364 tanks and 5 aircraft.

According to Mr. Tarnavsky, Ukraine's resistance has caused great losses to the enemy, and eliminated a significant reserve force that Russia planned to deploy for offensive operations in other areas of the front line. Moscow has not commented on the above information.

Ukrainian soldiers get out of a military vehicle at a location believed to be Avdiivka on February 17.

In another development, the Ukrainian military on February 18 released two videos that it said showed Russia shooting two prisoners. Kyiv’s ground forces said the incident happened that morning, and domestic media said the location was near the village of Vesele (Donetsk province). The Kremlin has not commented on the accusation.

China says it will not sell lethal weapons to Russia

AFP reported on February 18 that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba that Beijing would not sell lethal weapons for Russia to use in the ongoing conflict.

The statement was made by Mr. Wang on February 17, at a meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany. He emphasized that China "does not take advantage of the situation and does not sell lethal weapons to conflict zones or conflict parties."

Mr. Wang Yi speaks at the Munich Security Conference on February 18.

China insists it is a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict. Beijing has repeatedly denied allegations that it supplies lethal weapons to Moscow.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mr. Wang told Mr. Kuleba: "No matter how the international situation changes, China still hopes that bilateral relations will develop normally and continue to bring benefits to the people of the two countries."

"We will continue to play a constructive role in ending the war and restoring peace as soon as possible," Mr. Wang said.

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For his part, Mr. Kuleba also said that he and Mr. Wang discussed China-Ukraine relations and the path towards peace.

Putin ready to end Ukraine conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Rossiya-1 television channel on February 18 that his country was ready to end the conflict in Ukraine peacefully, but "there are no signs that Kyiv wants this."

According to Mr. Putin, if it weren't for the West's stance, the war would have ended a year and a half ago: "They (the Kyiv government) didn't want it. I don't know if they want it today."

President Putin said Russia is ready for dialogue to end the fighting. However, the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly said it will not accept a peace in which the country loses territory.

According to Ukrainian officials, the country will only agree to sit at the negotiating table once it regains all the territory lost to Russia, including the four provinces of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and the Crimean peninsula that Moscow unilaterally annexed in 2014.

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EU speaks of 'most important security commitment' to Ukraine

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on February 18, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said the most important geopolitical issues facing the EU today are related to Ukraine, The Guardian reported.

According to him, the EU must step up and provide Ukraine with security commitments, and most importantly, grant the country membership in the union.

He also warned that the EU must consider different scenarios regarding the level of US involvement in European security.

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