Ukraine updates: 'Ukraine's fate is our fate' says Merz

DW News · Feb 23, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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Skip next section UN says Ukraine war is 'a stain on our collective conscience'February 25, 2026UN says Ukraine war is 'a stain on our collective conscience'UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres reiterated calls for a ceasefire in the war between Russia and Ukraine, saying the conflict remained "as a stain on our collective conscience." Guterres' remarks were read on his behalf by Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN under-secretary-general for ​peacebuilding. "We have witnessed the cascading consequences of this blatant violation of international law," Guterres said. He commended US efforts ​to end the war, but added concrete measures were needed to ​de-escalate and create space for diplomacy. The UN chief warned that the fighting posed direct risks to the safe and secure operation of Ukraine's nuclear sites. "This ​unconscionable game of nuclear roulette must ​cease immediately," he added. https://p.dw.com/p/59LpQSkip next section WATCH: Ukraine marks four years of war with RussiaFebruary 24, 2026WATCH: Ukraine marks four years of war with RussiaEurope's deadliest conflict since World War II has upended the international order, while efforts to bring about an end to the fighting appear to have stalled. Ukraine's president says his country remains unbroken. Ukraine marks four years of war with RussiaTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video https://p.dw.com/p/59LpUSkip next section Zelenskyy rejects repairing the Druzhba pipelineFebruary 24, 2026Zelenskyy rejects repairing the Druzhba pipelineUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that repairing the Druzhba pipeline, which is crucial for Russian oil deliveries to EU states Hungary and Slovakia, was unnecessary. He argued that the Russian military was deliberately targeting repair crews. "So for what? To renovate for what? To lose people. I mean, I think this is a very big price," Zelenskyy said at a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa in Kyiv on Tuesday. Zelenskyy said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban should seek an energy ceasefire from Moscow to solve the problem. "Russia destroyed these pipelines several times," the Ukrainian president said. "But it can't be so that, for example, Russia destroys, Ukraine renovates," he added. Zelenskyy added that Russian should have no place on the European market. The Druzhba pipeline has caused tensions between Hungary and Ukraine, with Orban opposing to EU financial aid for Ukraine over interruptions in the flow of Russian oil to his country. https://p.dw.com/p/59LpPSkip next section EU lays out plan to protect Ukraine from winter energy crisisFebruary 24, 2026EU lays out plan to protect Ukraine from winter energy crisisEU top officials von der Leyen and Costa held a joint press conference with Zelenskyy in KyivImage: Ansgar Haase/dpa/picture allianceEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a plan to strengthen Ukraine's energy supply dubbed "Repair, Rebuild, Restart." Von der Leyen spoke about the plan during a visit to Kyiv to mark the fourth anniversary of the start of Moscow's war on Ukraine. It all comes as Ukraine has sought help from what it says is the worst energy crisis in its history this winter from targeted Russian attacks on infrastructure, with millions of people affected by prolonged power and heating outages. "We have seen four years of extraordinary courage from your soldiers and your citizens, whose bravery will echo through history. This will never be forgotten," Von der Leyen said in a joint statement with the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa. Von der Leyen said the plan would be backed by more than €920 million ($1.08 billion) to ensure a reliable power supply across Ukraine in the winter of 2026-27. "It will secure the steady flow of electricity across the country. It will accelerate the decentralized production of renewable energy," the statement read. Von der Leyen added that for immediate assistance this winter, a new package worth more than €100 million would be available immediately. https://p.dw.com/p/59Ll8Skip next section Germany treats over a thousand of Ukraine's woundedFebruary 24, 2026Germany treats over a thousand of Ukraine's woundedWarken said Germany's health sector continued to show willigness to aid Ukraine [FILE: December 19, 2025]Image: Bernd Elmenthaler/IMAGOAfter four years in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, some 1,700 wounded in the war, including soldiers, have traveled to Germany for treatment, the German Health Ministry said. The patients have been distributed to various clinics with some €25 million ($29 million) in public funds allocated for their care, the ministry said. "The willingness to help Ukraine remains high, including in the health sector." Health Minister Nina Warken said. "We continue to stand firmly by Ukraine's side," she added. According to the World Health Organization, more than 2,800 health care facilities have been targeted in the war. Germany's Health Ministry said it had also provided Ukraine with medical supplies, including protective suits, ventilators, and disinfectants. https://p.dw.com/p/59LlLSkip next section WATCH: 11‑year‑old victim of Ukraine war shares his story in USFebruary 24, 2026WATCH: 11‑year‑old victim of Ukraine war shares his story in USIn Ukraine, four years of war have taken a tremendous human toll. DW met one young survivor of a Russian attack who travelled to the United States to lobby for continued American support for his country. 11‑year‑old Ukraine war victim urges US to help end conflictTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video https://p.dw.com/p/59JGhSkip next section Slovakia says Russian oil to flow back this weekFebruary 24, 2026Slovakia says Russian oil to flow back this weekSlovakia said that shipments of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline that passes through Ukraine were expected to resume on Thursday, a statement by the Slovak government said. It all comes after Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said his country would halt emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine until Kyiv reopened the Druzhba pipeline that brings Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary. "The latest date announced for the resumption of shipments was delayed to February 26," the ministry said in a statement. The Slovak government said that it had not received an explanation from Ukraine explaining the delay in resuming shipments. Ukraine previously said the pipeline was damaged January 27 by Russian strikes. The EU imposed a ban on most oil imports from Russia in 2022 due to Moscow's attack on Kyiv, but the Druzhba pipeline was exempted to give landlocked Central European countries time to find alternative oil supplies. Since then, Slovakia and Hungary continue to depend on Russian energy and they have both sharply criticized the cut in oil deliveries. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had also blocked both a 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) EU loan to Ukraine as well as a fresh round of sanctions on Russia until Kyiv re-opens the oil pipeline. Orban: Europeans not unified on war in UkraineTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video https://p.dw.com/p/59LifSkip next section WATCH: Russia enjoyed impunity for decades, Ukrainian activist tells DWFebruary 24, 2026WATCH: Russia enjoyed impunity for decades, Ukrainian activist tells DWNicole FrölichFour years ago, Russia started its invasion of Ukraine. Oleksandra Matviichuk, founder of the Ukrainian "Center for Civil Liberties" and 2022 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, speaks to DW about the human toll of the war. Ukrainian activist: Russia enjoyed impunity for decadesTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video https://p.dw.com/p/59JGeSkip next section UN adopts motion saying Ukraine must not be divided; US, Hungary abstainFebruary 24, 2026UN adopts motion saying Ukraine must not be divided; US, Hungary abstainThe UN General Assembly has adopted a motion put forward by Ukraine supporting the country's international borders and voicing concern over intensifying Russian attacks on civilians and critical energy infrastructure, but without support from the United States. The motion is in no way binding but does carry political weight and was seen as a gauge for international support for Ukraine. It passed with 107 votes in favor, 12 against and 51 abstentions, as well as just over 20 countries that didn't participate. Predictably, Russia led the minority voting against, joined by its close allies Belarus and North Korea, as well as by Iran, Niger, Sudan and others. Two NATO members, Donald Trump's US and Viktor Orban's Hungary, abstained, while the rest of the military alliance and the European Union voted in favor. Another Security Council veto holder, China, abstained in the vote, as did India and Pakistan, the Gulf states, Brazil, South Africa, Serbia, and multiple post-Soviet Central Asian and Caucasian states, among others. https://p.dw.com/p/59LeKSkip next section Ukraine denies Russian claims on nuclear weaponsFebruary 24, 2026Ukraine denies Russian claims on nuclear weaponsUkraine called Russian claims that Kyiv was trying to obtain nuclear weapons "absurd." Russia's Foreign Intelligence ​Service (SVR) accused the UK and France of seeking to ​secretly supply ⁠Ukraine with nuclear weapon parts and technology. ⁠The SVR did not provide evidence for the claim. "Russian officials, known for ​their impressive record of lies, are once ​again trying to fabricate the ‌old 'dirty bomb' nonsense," Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, ‌told Reuters news agency. "For the record: Ukraine ‌has ​already denied such absurd Russian claims many times before, and we officially ​deny them again now. We urge t