Europe

EU leaders will support a change in the European Investment Bank's lending policy to allow financing of defense projects to boost European defense production after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Zelenskyy believes that Macron has changed his position on Russia's "inevitable defeat" because Putin deceived him personally. Macron realized that protecting Ukraine means protecting France and Europe.

President Zelenskyy said that 90% of European leaders support Ukraine, although some societies have different opinions, and that Hungarian Prime Minister Orban sometimes plays a dangerous game.

Yermak discussed Ukraine's urgent military needs with Sullivan, emphasized the importance of the House of Representatives approving the aid package, and thanked Biden for his strong support of Ukraine in his annual address to Congress.

Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson calls on Europe to persuade the United States to focus on Russia's war against Ukraine by increasing its own defense capabilities and aligning them with America's strategic interests, including the Chinese challenge.

French President Emmanuel Macron continues to postpone his visit to Ukraine, as he wants to coordinate with allies and come "with tangible results".

French President Emmanuel Macron actively supports Ukraine and calls for the defeat of Russia, realizing that Europe must enjoy strategic autonomy and build up its military capabilities in the absence of the US security umbrella.

Israel is working on building an alternative port in Larnaca, Cyprus, to prepare for a potential war with Hezbollah, which could close the port of Haifa.

Gabrielius Landsbergis believes that the time has come for discussions about the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine, as they destroy the red lines that Western politicians have created for themselves. He also called for quick action, as endless debates without solutions are weakening Europe.

Russian President Putin's invasion of Ukraine has led to Finland and Sweden joining NATO and brought Ukraine closer to membership than ever before, despite Putin's goal of hindering Ukraine's progress toward NATO and the EU, the NATO Secretary General said.

If no action is taken, Europe will face the catastrophic consequences of climate change, such as deadly heat waves, floods, and more than €1 trillion in annual economic losses from coastal flooding by the end of the century.

Ukraine became Europe's largest arms importer in 2019-2023 thanks to military assistance from at least 30 countries after Russia's invasion in February 2022, with arms imports to Europe increasing by 94% compared to 2014-2018.

Russia produces about 3 million artillery shells a year, which is almost three times more than the 1. 2 million shells produced by the United States and Europe for Ukraine.

Today marks the beginning of Maslenitsa, an ancient Slavic holiday that celebrates the arrival of spring.

Van Gogh's 1884 painting "Portrait of a Peasant Woman in a White Bonnet" was sold for 4. 5 million euros at a European art fair.

Donald Trump will not finance the Ukraine-Russia war if he returns to the White House, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says.

President Zelenskyy criticized the Pope's proposal for Ukraine's negotiations with Russia, saying that the Church should be with people who are defending their lives, not engaged in "virtual mediation" from afar.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba responded to Pope Francis' proposal to hold talks between Ukraine and russia under a "white flag," emphasizing that Ukrainians live, die and win under their blue and yellow flag, and urged the Pope not to repeat historical mistakes.

NATO nations are rotating air defense systems, including Patriot systems, to Lithuania to strengthen Europe's defense capabilities in the Baltic region in response to concerns about russian aggression.

Japan and the United States are discussing cooperation to provide Ukraine with more ammunition, potentially easing Tokyo's restrictions on military exports and helping to expand the U. S. arsenal of weapons for Ukraine.

NATO diplomats suggest preparing for a possible US withdrawal from the alliance if Donald Trump wins the next presidential election.

The next meeting of the Ramstein Defense Contact Group is scheduled for March 19 at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where U. S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will meet with defense ministers and senior officials from around the world to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the security challenges facing U.S. allies and partners.

The United States imposed sanctions against a Russian company (Broker Expert LLC) and a company from the Central African Republic (Bois Rouge SARLU) for facilitating Russia's malicious activities and supporting the Wagner Group in the CAR.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on allies to provide the necessary support to Ukraine to win the war with Russia and prevent its potential spread to NATO territory, warning against repeating past mistakes that led to tragic consequences.

French troops are training intensively to fight a high-intensity war against a formidable foe like Russia, combining infantry, armored vehicles, artillery and new technologies such as drones to avoid costly frontal attacks and achieve the combat effectiveness of combined arms units.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has called on allies to urgently increase and accelerate military aid to Ukraine, saying that the strategy of helping Ukraine "one drop at a time" no longer works to defeat Russia and prevent the spread of war in Europe.

In March 2024, Ukraine expects to receive a negotiating framework for EU accession from the European Commission. The Ukrainian government has implemented the necessary recommendations.

If Ukraine loses, Russia will definitely attack NATO countries, President Zelenskiy warned, calling on allies to support Ukraine to prevent further Russian aggression.

Oil prices remained largely unchanged as investors weighed potential future interest rate cuts in the US and Europe.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba will visit Lithuania to discuss with the foreign ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and France a rapid increase in military aid to Ukraine.