Good morning, readers. #Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

When commercial flights disappeared from Ukraine’s skies in 2022, it was the calm before the storm—the eve of #war.

Now, as Kyiv weighs reopening its airports, pilot Yevheniia fears the risks may outweigh the rewards.

“We started taxiing, powered up the engines, and the commander quietly muttered, 'God have mercy,' recalled Yevheniia Bilonohova, a pilot of the Ukrainian airline company SkyUp.

As citizens of a country where no civilian #planes fly, Yevheniia and her colleague can only pilot aircraft on business trips outside the country. Over the last three years, no civilian aircraft have flown over #Ukraine.

Only #military jets, drones and #missiles have soared above the heads of Ukrainians.
But soon, that could change. The white contrails of commercial jets may once again trace their way across the Ukrainian sky.

Open #airspace would be one of the key indicators that #Ukraine is returning to being a relatively peaceful state, and regaining complete control over its #infrastructure.

Additionally, the reopening of the #airports would help #Ukraine recover economically and accelerate reconstruction. And more than anything, it’s a signal of Ukraine having overcome outrageous odds – a sign of victory, even.

To read about open airspace above #Ukraine, follow us for free (or become a paid subscriber) via the link!

Thank you for your continued support!

#NEWS OF THE DAY:

1/2 UKRAINIAN #MINERALS FOR #MINERALS AID: The Trump administration has offered to take half of Ukraine's rare earth minerals as reimbursement for U.S. aid to #Ukraine since 2022, NBC News reported.

Trump officials pitch Zelenskyy on U.S. owning 50% of Ukraine's rare earth minerals

The Trump administration indicated U.S. troops could be deployed to provide security in connection with the minerals if there's a peace deal with Russia, sources told NBC News.

NBC News (www.nbcnews.com)

#ZELENSKYY CALLS FOR THE CREATION OF EUROPEAN #ARMY: Russia aims to deploy troops to Belarus that could be used to invade #Ukraine and other #NATO countries, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during the #Munich Security Conference. This signals that #Europe needs its own armed forces, he said.

Зеленський закликає створити в ЄС власну армію: Збройні сили Європи

Президент Володимир Зеленський висунув ідею створення спільних Збройних сил Європи за участі української армії, адже період, коли можна було покладатися на США, – лишився у минулому.

Українська правда (www.pravda.com.ua)

#HUNGARY BLOCKS #EU NEGOTIATIONS ON #UKRAINE: #Poland, which will hold the EU Council presidency till July 2025, has presented a letter outlining key reforms that Ukraine must implement. The letter was supported by all countries, except by Hungary.

Węgry zablokowały negocjacje ws. członkostwa Ukrainy w UE

Węgry zablokowały negocjacje ws. członkostwa Ukrainy w UE - RMF24.pl - Węgry zablokowały w piątek otwarcie pierwszego obszaru negocjacji w sprawie członkostwa Ukrainy w Unii Europejskiej - przekazał RMF FM unijny dyplomata. Chodzi o klaster "Podstawy",

(www.rmf24.pl)

#EUROPE QUIETLY MAKING PLAN TO SEND #TROOPS TO #UKRAINE: Europe is secretly working on a plan to send troops to Ukraine, the AP reported. In December 2024, on the eve of Trump's inauguration, #NATO countries met with Zelenskyy at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Europe quietly works on a plan to send troops to Ukraine for post-war security

Increasingly alarmed that U.S. security priorities lie elsewhere, a group of European countries has been working on a plan to send troops to Ukraine to help enforce any future peace settlement with Russia.

AP News (apnews.com)

#GERMANY RESPONDS TO VANCE'S CRITICISM OF EUROPEAN DEMOCRACY: Recent comments by U.S. Vice President J.D. #Vance during the #Munich Security Conference, claiming that freedom of speech is “in retreat" in #EU countries, have drawn a sharp response from German Defense Minister.

https://www.dw.com/en/pistorius-vance-speech-not-acceptable/video-71616307