President Zelenskiy firmly rejected any bilateral U.S.-Russia agreement on Ukraine’s future without Kyiv’s direct participation, emphasizing Ukraine’s sovereignty. He urged Europe’s inclusion in negotiations to end the war, expressing concern over potential deals excluding Ukraine. Zelenskiy stressed the need for a pre-negotiation U.S.-Ukraine plan and sought a meeting with President Trump before any Trump-Putin discussions. He downplayed, yet acknowledged the “unpleasant” nature of Trump’s prior call with Putin.
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Concurrent with a reported drone attack, Russian forces conducted shelling and airstrikes in Ukraine, injuring civilians in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Former President Trump announced a phone call with President Putin, claiming agreement on a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. Trump subsequently spoke with President Zelenskyy, asserting both leaders desired peace. The accounts of these events offer a complex picture of ongoing military actions and diplomatic efforts.
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German and French defense ministers criticized the US’s preemptive concessions to Russia regarding Ukraine’s NATO membership and territorial integrity, arguing that these issues should be negotiated. These unilateral declarations by the US, which also suggested a negotiated peace based on pre-2014 borders, sparked opposition from several European nations. The Weimar+ group of countries affirmed their commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, emphasizing that Ukraine must be involved in any peace negotiations. Conversely, the Kremlin expressed approval of the US’s stance, highlighting a perceived shift toward seeking a negotiated end to the war. Despite this, Ukraine reiterated its strategic objective of NATO membership.
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Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that President Trump has tasked Arab nations with developing a Gaza Strip peace plan, following a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah. This request comes after Trump’s previously announced plan to relocate Palestinians and develop a resort, which has been met with resistance from Arab leaders, including Egypt’s President Sisi, who is reportedly delaying a White House visit. An Arab summit is planned to formulate this alternative plan, focusing on Gaza’s reconstruction without displacement, and potentially involving the EU and UN for funding. Simultaneously, the ceasefire in Gaza remains fragile due to Israeli violations and pressure from the US regarding the release of hostages.
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Senator McConnell argues that the Trump administration’s tariffs are detrimental, increasing business costs and consumer prices. These tariffs, particularly impacting Kentucky’s agriculture, bourbon, and auto industries, could cost Kentuckians up to $1200 annually. Retaliatory tariffs from trading partners further exacerbate the issue, harming American businesses and jobs. McConnell advocates for collaboration with allies, not trade wars, to ensure long-term economic prosperity and avoid unnecessary financial burdens on American families.
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A federal judge has ordered a halt to the Trump administration’s removal of Jan. 6-related videos and court records from government websites, following a lawsuit by a coalition of news organizations. The coalition alleges the administration purged these records from the USA File Exchange (USAfx) database, citing the disappearance of video exhibits from at least one case as evidence. Judge Boasberg mandated that the administration identify all removed materials and provide justifications by February 26th. The news organizations argue that these records are subject to public access rights under the First Amendment and that their removal hinders public understanding of the events of January 6th.
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New York City Comptroller Brad Lander alleges that $80 million in federal aid, allocated for migrant housing, was illegally withdrawn from the city’s bank account by the Trump administration. This action, characterized as “highway robbery” by Lander, reportedly involved the rescinding of funds already paid to the city by FEMA. The Trump administration claims the money was misspent on luxury hotels and used by “deep state activists.” The city is exploring legal options to recover the funds, and the situation raises concerns about the legality of such funding freezes.
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Following President Trump’s February 12th announcement of immediate US-Russia negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, concerns arose regarding the exclusion of Ukraine from these talks. President Trump confirmed direct communication with Vladimir Putin regarding this initiative. Earlier that day, Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed strong reservations, characterizing such negotiations as a dangerous betrayal of Ukraine’s interests. The differing perspectives highlight a significant point of contention regarding the path to peace.
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This year’s Munich Security Conference risks repeating the disastrous 1938 conference’s failures. A parallel is drawn between the current geopolitical climate and the appeasement of Hitler, suggesting a similar blindness to current threats. Concerns are raised that a policy of appeasement is resurfacing in Munich. The conference’s atmosphere is characterized as one where a dangerous lack of decisive action is looming.
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NATO’s Steadfast Dart 2025 exercises, the alliance’s largest operation this year, showcase a new rapid deployment model across Eastern Europe without direct U.S. involvement. The six-week drills, involving 10,000 troops from nine nations, test the Allied Reaction Force, a newly established, multi-domain force designed for swift deployment within ten days. This evolution reflects a growing European focus on military self-sufficiency and comes amidst heightened tensions with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The exercise underscores NATO’s commitment to reinforcing its eastern flank and deterring future conflict.
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John Q. Hosedrinker