**Russia Denies Knowledge of Proposed Peace Plan**
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on February 18 that Moscow had not seen a proposed three-point peace plan for Ukraine. The alleged plan, which reportedly includes a ceasefire, elections in Ukraine, and a final peace agreement, was revealed by Fox News Senior White House Correspondent Jacqui Heinrich on X.
Lavrov denied any knowledge of the plan and warned that Russia would not accept the deployment of Western troops in Ukraine. He claimed that even if Western troops operated under EU or national flags, rather than NATO’s, it would still be a “direct threat” to Russia.
**Russia Rejects Western Troops**
Lavrov further escalated rhetoric against President Volodymyr Zelensky, suggesting that he and his team should be “calmed down” following a Ukrainian drone strike on a pumping station in Russia’s Kuban region. He claimed that the deployment of NATO military personnel in Ukraine would be a direct threat to Russian sovereignty.
**Ukraine Insists on Security Guarantees**
Kyiv said that strong security guarantees are essential for any peace agreement. The deployment of peacekeepers in Ukraine has been considered as one possible option. President Zelensky announced on February 18 that he postponed his visit to Saudi Arabia amid talks between Russia and the United States.
**Saudi Arabia Talks**
The talks in Saudi Arabia mark the first direct negotiations between the U.S. and Russia since the full-scale invasion began. The Russian delegation, led by Lavrov, met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials. However, Ukraine was not invited to participate in these talks.
**Russia’s Aggression Continues**
Russian forces launched 176 drones from various locations at Ukraine overnight, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. Two explosions took place on the oil tanker Seajewel, moored in the Italian city of Savona on February 18, with the vessel allegedly transporting Russian oil to Europe.
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