Zelensky is already in the United States to meet with Trump and sign the agreement for the exploitation of Ukraine's rare earth lands. Meanwhile, attacks continue in Ukrainian territory, with Russian troops focusing on strategic and energy facilities in Ukraine.
Tonight, Russia has carried out several attacks on the energy infrastructure in the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine. In these bombings, mainly drones were used, resulting in one person being injured.
Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, resisted capture by Russian forces in the early stages of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, the city and the surrounding region have been frequent targets of Russian airstrikes.
Starmer Seeks to Strengthen Ukraine's Negotiating Capacity in London on Sunday
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will convene leaders from 14 European countries, in addition to top EU and NATO officials, in an informal summit this Sunday in London to urge them to bolster Ukraine's position on the ground for potential peace negotiations.
According to Downing Street, the Prime Minister's office, the leaders of Ukraine, Spain, France, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, and Romania have been invited to the meeting. Also participating will be the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Council, António Costa, as well as the NATO Secretary-General, Mark Rutte.
Starmer aims to promote joint European action to ensure a "fair and lasting peace," following his meeting on Thursday in Washington with U.S. President Donald Trump, who declined to commit to providing security guarantees for a potential European peace mission in Ukraine.
Podemos Demands Sánchez to Withdraw Spain from NATO
Podemos' Secretary General, Ione Belarra, demanded on Friday that the Spanish President, Pedro Sánchez, submit to the Congress of Deputies any potential deployment of peace troops to Ukraine and formally requested that Spain withdraw from NATO.
"Podemos will never support the military deployment to Ukraine. We demand President Sánchez, unlike what he has been doing since the beginning of the war, to bring to Parliament decisions that directly involve the sovereignty of this country," Belarra stated during the IV European Conference for Peace, organized by Podemos along with representatives of European and international political parties and social movements.
Russia's Threat Jeopardizes European Commitment Against Landmines
NATO countries neighboring Russia are considering withdrawing from the Ottawa Treaty banning landmines to use this weaponry to defend against Moscow's potential threat, endangering the global fight against these harmful weapons, warned the international coalition that achieved the ban, as reported by Efe.
On the eve of the 26th anniversary of the treaty's entry into force (March 1, 1999), the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) alerted about this and other threats the movement faces in the current geostrategic landscape.
"All NATO members except one (the United States) are part of the treaty banning landmines, so if one were to withdraw, it would create internal division and diplomatic and security problems," emphasized the global network, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, the year the agreement was reached.
Robles Affirms "Spain and the European Union Will Stand on the Right Side" with Ukraine
Defense Minister Margarita Robles presided over a tribute on Friday at the Infantry Academy in Toledo to the fallen Ukrainians, both civilians and military, on the third anniversary of the start of the Russian aggression, as reported by Servimedia.
According to her department, Margarita Robles emphasized that "Ukraine deserves a fair and lasting peace," adding that "Spain will stand by its side as it has been since the beginning of this unjust war."
The Defense Minister asserted that "Spain and the European Union will remain on the right side" and reiterated that "this war has only one culprit, Putin."
Ukrainian Mayors Explore Technological Solutions in Spain for Reconstruction
Over thirty Ukrainian mayors are visiting companies in the Region of Murcia this week, focusing on defense, agriculture, and security technology sectors, among others, in search of solutions that can aid in the reconstruction and recovery of their country after the Russian invasion, as reported by Efe.
This international mission was announced last week in Brussels by the President of the Region, Fernando López Miras, after meeting with the EU Commissioner for Defense and Space, Andrius Kubilius, where he expressed Murcia's commitment to establishing itself as a reference in the European defense industry.
Kremlin Makes No Comment on Trump-Zelensky Meeting, Calls to Wait for Results
The Kremlin called on Friday to wait for the results of the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, before making any comments, as reported by Efe.
"Let's wait for the results of today's contacts and the statements that will be made at the end," said the Russian Presidency's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, during his daily phone briefing.
The meeting between Trump and Zelensky is scheduled to take place today in Washington at 11:00 local time (16:00 GMT).
Ukraine Confirms Russia's Attempt to Penetrate Sumy Region
Ukraine's National Security Council's Disinformation Center confirmed on Friday that Russian troops are attempting to penetrate the Sumy region in northeastern Ukraine, bordering Russia's Kursk region, as reported by Efe.
"After verifying information from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Center reports that the Russians are trying to attack the border without military equipment columns, with infantry groups," stated this official Ukrainian body.
"The Ukrainian Armed Forces are destroying the enemy. At the moment, they have not managed to cross the border; the fighting continues," added the official Ukrainian note.
Russian Intelligence Thwarts Assassination Attempt on Putin's 'Spiritual Advisor'
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) reported on Friday that it thwarted an assassination plot organized by Ukrainian intelligence services against Metropolitan Tikhon, known as the 'spiritual advisor' to Russian President Vladimir Putin, as reported by Efe.
In mid-February, two clergymen from the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow, Ukrainian Denis Popovich, who was an assistant to the metropolitan, and Russian Nikita Ivankovich, were arrested for planning a bomb attack at the monastery, according to several media outlets citing FSB sources.
Both seminarians claim they were recruited by Ukrainian intelligence services under coercion and threats, with Popovich stating that they had threatened to kill his family, as reported by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.