following his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last Friday. This is a sharp departure from the previous course of supporting Ukraine and cooperation between the two one-time allies.

Organized by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the meeting focused on finding a path to end the war while ensuring Ukraine's sovereignty in peace talks. Starmer said that the United Kingdom and France will work with Ukraine "on a plan to stop the fighting" with Russia. He further added that Europe must take responsibility for defending itself.

European leaders agreed that Ukraine must be party to any peace negotiations. Following the summit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for member countries to rearm, promising to set out a full plan in the coming days, and urged allies to "put Ukraine in a position of strength." European Council President Antonio Costa said strong security guarantees are needed to ensure a lasting peace in Ukraine and ensure the war-torn country is not invaded again.

He noted the difficulty in achieving a full ceasefire, given the scope of the conflict and the complex situation on the frontline.

Both Macron and Starmer emphasized the need for peace, which involves security guarantees. However, even if a ceasefire is reached soon, Russia is likely to maintain control over the occupied territories, while Ukraine's hopes of receiving reparations from Moscow for post-war reconstruction appear unrealistic.

In a separate development, Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine's commitment to signing a rare minerals deal with the U.S. However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused him of undermining the agreement in a CBS interview on Sunday, stating that the deal is currently not on the table.

In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote, "This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!” Trump continued to try to paint Zelenskyy’s fears, based on previous experience, that Russian President Vladimir Putin won’t honor any peace agreement without security guarantees for Ukraine, as Zelensky rejecting peace. “It is what I was saying, this guy doesn't want there to be Peace as long as he has America's backing."

Since Russian forces occupied the facility in March 2022, IAEA access to the plant has been limited due to its proximity to the frontline. In a recent statement, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said that Moscow refused to provide security guarantees for IAEA staff to pass through Ukraine-controlled territory, which kept the same monitors on site for 80 days, more than twice as long as the customary rotation. This forced the agency to accept Russian terms in order to relieve staff operating under extremely stressful conditions.

Although the pace of the Kremlin's territorial gains has decelerated since the beginning of the year, with a peak of 280 square miles reached last November, it remains the fastest since the spring of 2022. The territory seized in February 2025 matches the total occupied during the first quarter of 2024. The vast majority of Russian gains have been concentrated in Ukraine's east, where defenders face manpower shortages and are forced to slowly retreat.

According to a March 1 poll, the U.S. has gone from predominantly being perceived as friendly, to more Ukrainians viewing it as unfriendly, though 13% of respondents still consider the U.S. an ally. The list of the most adversarial countries is led by Iran, North Korea, and Belarus, all of which backed Russia's invasion.

After the antagonistic exchange between the two heads of state, 46% of Ukrainians still believe that the country could continue resisting Russian aggression even if American support stops, with 36% doubting this view. The survey also points to an increase in support for President Zelenskyy, with his approval rating rising to 49%. Meanwhile, Ukrainians oppose holding elections during wartime, which was recently advocated by U.S. officials, with 58% supporting post-war elections.

Russia’s Attacks on Ukraine.

Dnipropetrovsk region. On March 1, a Russian missile strike targeted a unit of Ukraine's army, reportedly hitting a training camp in the country's central region. The attack, which was coordinated by a reconnaissance drone, reportedly killed dozens, causing as many as 100 casualties.

Donetsk region. Regional governor Vadym Filashkin reported that Russian attacks across the eastern province have killed four civilians and left ten others wounded in the first three days of March.

Kherson region. On March 2, Russian artillery and drone assaults on multiple localities, including the city of Kherson, hit civilian infrastructure, killing four people and injuring ten others.

Odesa region. A drone strike launched by Russian forces on Ukraine's southern port region killed one civilian and injured three others on March 1.