In a statement marking the anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Türkiye reiterated its unwavering support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, explicitly rejecting the illegal 2014 annexation as a violation of international law. Ankara highlighted its ongoing monitoring of the situation in Crimea, particularly concerning the plight of the Crimean Tatars, and its commitment to keeping this issue before the international community. This stance underscores Türkiye’s consistent opposition to Russia’s actions in Crimea, which began with the seizure of key administrative buildings and culminated in a widely condemned referendum and annexation.
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Germany issued a travel advisory warning transgender and nonbinary citizens about potential U.S. entry issues stemming from President Trump’s executive order prohibiting “X” gender markers on passports. The advisory urges those with differing gender markers or entries to contact U.S. diplomatic missions beforehand. This follows Trump’s ban on transgender women in female sports and Secretary Rubio’s directive to deny visas to those suspected of misrepresenting their sex, potentially resulting in permanent bans. A lawsuit against the passport directive is currently underway.
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Following President Trump’s repeated assertions that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly firmly rejected the idea at the G7 meeting, stating that Canada’s sovereignty is non-negotiable. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged a discrepancy between the President’s stance and the Canadian government’s position, while emphasizing the G7’s ability to collaborate despite disagreements. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also unequivocally dismissed the notion of Canadian annexation. Despite the conflict, the G7 ministers committed to working together on areas of mutual agreement.
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A virtual summit hosted by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer proposed a 10,000-strong multinational peacekeeping force for Ukraine, contingent upon a peace deal with Russia. This coalition, involving at least 35 countries providing various support, aims to secure Ukraine post-conflict. While the U.K. and France are expected to be the largest contributors, some European nations have expressed reservations. Further military talks are scheduled for March 20th to solidify the coalition’s plans.
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Thousands protested Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s pro-Russia stance and his obstruction of EU actions concerning Ukraine in Budapest. Simultaneously, Orbán presented twelve demands to the EU, including a “Union without Ukraine,” increased national veto power, and a crackdown on foreign-funded organizations. In response, the opposition launched a referendum, “Voice of the Nation,” encompassing questions on EU and NATO membership and term limits for the Prime Minister. Orbán’s actions, timed to coincide with a national holiday, included threats against media and NGOs he deemed “foreign agents.”
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French MEP Raphaël Glucksmann called for the return of the Statue of Liberty to France, arguing that the US no longer embodies the values it symbolized when gifted. His demand, made at a Place Publique party convention, stemmed from criticism of the Trump administration’s policies, including cuts to research funding and dismissals of scientists. Glucksmann contrasted this with France’s welcoming stance towards these researchers. He also condemned the alignment of French far-right leaders with Trump and Elon Musk.
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IOC President Thomas Bach attributed the controversy surrounding two female boxers at the Paris 2024 Olympics to a Russian disinformation campaign, dismissing it as a “fake news” crisis. The dispute, fueled by the IBA’s criticism of the IOC’s decision to allow the athletes’ participation, stemmed from the IBA’s prior ban based on a chromosome test—a decision Bach deemed irrelevant given the boxers’ long history of competing as women. Bach further emphasized the IOC’s lack of a universal transgender athlete policy, leaving it to individual federations. Finally, Bach expressed confidence in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics’ preparations, citing President Trump’s support and the potential reinstatement of boxing.
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Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi announced that Russian military personnel losses have surpassed 100,000 since the start of 2025. This figure reflects the ongoing success of Ukrainian defense forces in combating Russian troops across the entire front line. Syrskyi attributed this significant loss to the coordinated efforts and professionalism of Ukrainian defenders. The statement was made via a Facebook post.
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To boost European defense production and reduce reliance on US weapons, President Macron proposed offering the SAMP/T air defense system as an alternative to the Patriot, and the Rafale fighter jet as an alternative to the F-35. This initiative follows recent European NATO members’ continued purchases of US-made aircraft, despite concerns. Macron also urged French defense companies to streamline processes for greater competitiveness. Furthermore, he outlined a plan for a multi-national European troop deployment to Ukraine focused on training and long-term support, while reiterating the unacceptability of Putin’s ceasefire conditions.
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Despite initially supporting a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire, President Zelenskyy denounced continued Russian attacks across multiple Ukrainian cities, citing over 2,380 attacks this week alone. He emphasized the need for a “just and lasting peace” secured through sustained international pressure on Russia, including intensified sanctions. Zelenskyy’s statement follows discussions between US and Russian diplomats on ending the conflict and a call from President Putin for Ukrainian troops’ surrender in Kursk. This underscores the ongoing conflict and the challenges in achieving a peaceful resolution.
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John Q. Hosedrinker