Zelenskyy highlighted the time discrepancy earlier this week, writing on X: “Our American friends, they are preparing security guarantees. But they said – first this swap of territories, or something like that, and then security guarantees. I think – first, security guarantees. Ukraine may draw some encouragement from recent western intelligence assessments suggesting Russia is facing growing difficulties recruiting troops for the war. The Kremlin’s forces have made limited territorial gains this year, while Ukrainian troops have managed several localised counteroffensives in the southern Zaporizhzhia region.

Source: The Guardian February 18, 2026 16:04 UTC