Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 03-03-2025

Expert opinions on the situation and the ramifications of Trump’s possible withdrawal of support.

The lighting was perfect, and the camera was rolling when Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky walked into the Oval Office on Feb. 28 to sign a sweeping minerals deal.

Lunch had been prepared to celebrate the signing. Both heads of state are seasoned television performers in their past and previous lives, and the “unwritten” script was that Zelensky would fawn and praise President Donald Trump for his efforts to stop the war.

Despite being a long-standing transatlanticist, Merz has emphasized the need for more European independence from the United States in defense policy in light of the Trump administration’s actions.

Germany’s likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday he thought US President Donald Trump had deliberately escalated last week’s angry clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky which shocked Kyiv’s allies.

In their Oval Office meeting on Friday, Trump berated Zelensky, telling him to be more “thankful” for US support against the invading Russian army in the three-year-old war and demanding he “make a deal” with Moscow.

Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but the similarities between what’s been heard coming from Moscow and Washington DC are uncanny. Here are five talking points to consider.

Senior members of the US administration led by President Donald J. Trump over the weekend pushed messaging on Ukraine closely resembling propaganda talking points used by Kremlin-controlled media.

Trump also took aim at European leaders who met Zelensky for crisis talks in London at the weekend, saying that they had “stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the US.”

US President Donald Trump said Monday that Washington would “not put up with” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s rhetoric much longer, as the US president prepared to meet his top team after a disastrous Oval Office row with the Ukrainian.

“This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelensky, and America will not put up with it for much longer,” Trump said on social media, citing a story quoting Ukraine’s president saying the end of the war with Moscow was far off.

Russia plans to launch 500 Shahed & UAVs at Ukraine in a single strike – Intel warns. At the same time, Russia is ramping up production of certain missile types.

Russia has significantly increased drone production and is now preparing to launch 500 drones simultaneously over Ukraine, according to Vadym Skibitsky, deputy head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR).

In an interview with RBC-Ukraine, Skibitsky said that Russia has expanded its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) production to include various models, enabling it to launch hundreds of UAVs in a single strike.

Syrsky removed some top commanders pending criminal investigations after Russia’s deadly strike and ordered a review of missile threat protocols.

Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) Oleksandr Syrsky dismissed some unit heads pending a criminal investigation and ordered his commanders to review missile threat alert procedures following a Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian training base.

In a midday attack on Saturday, March 1, the Russian struck a training base in the Dnipropetrovsk region, reportedly using a cluster-munitions-equipped Iskander-M ballistic missile.

The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) said UK-based fintech firm Revolut did not apply for a banking license in Ukraine after it announced its operations in the country.

Revolut, a UK-based digital bank, has not received a banking license to operate in Ukraine and has not started the compliance process to formally launch its services in Ukraine, according to the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).

The NBU’s comments came after Revolut announced its operation in Ukraine on Feb. 11, according to Revolut’s site.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen warned on Sunday that “we urgently have to rearm Europe” as leaders from the continent met in London for crisis talks over Ukraine

Share prices of European defense companies soared Monday as London and the European Union look to ramp up military spending in the face of uncertainty over the United States’ commitment to Ukraine and NATO.

BAE Systems surged 14%, helping London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index to a record high, the latest in a series over recent months.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday that the UK would invest £1.6 billion ($2 billion) to source more than 5,000 air defense / multirole missiles for Ukraine – but how do they work?

Ukraine might receive more than 5,000 air defense and surface-to-surface multirole portable missiles from the UK soon – but what missiles specifically?

On Sunday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said a new deal has been agreed on to spend £1.6 billion ($2 billion) via UK export finance and purchase “more than 5,000 air defense missiles” for Ukraine at a Sunday press conference after a European summit attended by Western leaders.

In an open letter, Polish freedom icon Lech Walesa and 40 former dissidents condemned Trump’s treatment of Zelensky and emphasizing gratitude to Ukraine’s soldiers.

Polish freedom icon Lech Walesa and approximately 40 other former dissidents criticized US President Donald Trump for his recent confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, comparing the US president’s actions to “communist courtrooms.” 

In an open letter, they expressed “horror and disgust” about Trump’s accusations that Zelensky lacked gratitude for American aid to Ukraine. They said that gratitude is owed to the “heroic Ukrainian soldiers who shed blood in defense of the values of the free world.” 

Currently, 620,000 Russian troops are deployed against Ukraine, including forces stationed in occupied territories and Kursk Oblast.

Ukrainian military intelligence has uncovered and disrupted Russia’s plans to launch large-scale offensive operations in the second half of 2024 and early 2025, Vadym Skibitsky, deputy head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), said. 

Skibitsky said that Ukraine found out about Moscow’s intentions in time and took appropriate measures thanks to coordinated intelligence efforts, preventing widescale offensives that could have moved the frozen line of conflict in Russia’s favor, RBC-Ukraine reported on Monday. 

Six reasons why the Oval Office ambush was a good thing

The ambush by hired hand J.D. Vance (more like Calvera than Angel Eyes) at the not so Ok coral WH Oval Office at high noon on Friday made for great theater, rather 24H TV. And initially it appeared to be an absolute disaster for President Zelensky and Ukraine – risking perhaps the pulling of US military support for Ukraine and even more hard days ahead than for Ukrainians in their existential battle for survival against Russia. However, after the dust settled on the floor of the Oval Office saloon bar, I can see a few silver linings for Ukraine.

First, as I argued last week, while the minerals deal hardly seemed to be worth the paper it was written on for Ukraine (with zero real commitments of anything be that security or finance from the US), it did give Zelensky the prospect of some “quality” time in the WH. A chance to make the Ukrainian case and, in the worst case, to really figure out where the Trump administration stood – with Russia, or with Ukraine. If the former, Ukraine could plan accordingly, as, at least, it would be put out of its misery.

The world in focus, as seen by Canadian leading global affairs analyst Michael Bociurkiw in a quick review of the biggest news in international media today.

France and Britain are proposing a one-month truce in Ukraine “in the air, at sea” after crisis talks in London, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday. In an interview with France’s Le Figaro newspaper, Macron said that such a truce would not, initially at least, cover ground fighting. The problem there was it would be very difficult to check that it was being respected given the size of the front line, he said. Peacekeepers would be deployed at a later date, he said, adding: “There won’t be European troops on Ukrainian soil in the coming weeks.” Macron also suggested that European countries should raise their defence spending to between 3.0 and 3.5 percent of GDP to respond to Washington’s shifting priorities and Russia’s militarisation. “For three years, the Russians have spent 10 percent of their GDP on defence,” he told the paper. “So we have to prepare for what’s next.” - AFP

When Zelensky was asked about the truce, he replied: “I’m aware of everything.”

Russian authorities in the occupied Luhansk region have reportedly recruited nearly 60,000 schoolchildren into youth movements in preparation for military service.

Russian authorities in the occupied eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk have recruited nearly 60,000 schoolchildren into youth movements in preparation for military service, a Ukrainian government resistance organization has claimed.

The National Resistance Center of Ukraine, established by Kyiv to advise civilians on resistance strategies against occupying Russian forces, has issued a report claiming that young people are being prepared to fight for Russia. 

Ukrainian intelligence soldier “Khokhol” survived three days in enemy territory, crawling through minefields to escape, return to his unit, and prove he was not dead.

Putin’s spokesman called Friday’s angry encounter between Trump and Zelensky “quite an unprecedented event,” blaming Zelensky, who he said “demonstrated a complete lack of diplomatic abilities.”

The Kremlin on Monday accused President Volodymyr Zelensky of not wanting peace, following a clash last week between the Ukrainian leader and US President Donald Trump.

“He doesn’t want peace. Someone should make him want peace. If the Europeans do it, all kudos to them,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Trump reposted a wedding DJ/ amateur blogger’s claim Zelensky would be forced to concede and US involvement in Ukraine’s mining industry would deter Russia from attacking.

US President Donald Trump shared a post by unknown blogger Michael McCune on his Truth Social account, which claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would be forced to make concessions to White House demands.

“Now, Zelensky will have no choice but to back down and accept Trump’s terms. But here’s the genius part—Trump is actually protecting Ukraine without dragging the US into war,” the reposted message reads.

Macron said after the London talks that France and Britain were proposing a one-month truce in Ukraine “in the air, at sea and on energy infrastructure,” although not covering ground fighting.

France on Monday said a plan for a one-month truce between Russia and Ukraine would test Moscow’s commitment to ending the war it began with its 2022 invasion.

A day after European leaders rallied around Ukraine at a summit in London after the White House spat between Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot also warned that the Ukraine “front line keeps getting closer to us”.

According to German reports, the US and Russia are working on a deal where US companies would act as intermediaries for sending Russian gas to Germany via Nord Stream 2.

The United States has been secretly negotiating with Russian representatives in Switzerland for the past few weeks about supplying Russian gas to Germany through the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

Richard Grenell, a special envoy for US President Donald Trump, reportedly traveled to Switzerland multiple times to discuss the deal. It is unclear who else was involved in these talks.

The Security Service of Ukraine has identified another Russian commander responsible for ordering the use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has identified another Russian officer in the chain of command responsible for ordering the use of chemical weapons on Ukrainian troops. 

The SBU said Colonel Roman Shkroba, the commander of the 123rd Motorized Rifle Brigade of Russia’s Southern Military District, ordered the use of K-51 and RG-Vo gas grenades in Ukraine’s Donetsk region in December 2023. 

Ground Forces Commander ordered an independent investigation by military counterintelligence, warning: “Everyone responsible – whether through action or inaction – will be held accountable.”

[Updated at 13:45]: The State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) has announced the opening of criminal proceedings into the deaths and injuries of Ukrainian servicemen following a Russian missile strike on a training ground in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

“Investigative actions are currently underway to clarify all details of the incident. A special joint team of law enforcement officers has been dispatched to the scene,” the DBR’s statement said.

The Ukrainian president is caught between a rock and a hard place. With an admittedly weak hand, he needs to assess all possible outcomes before proceeding boldly.

The smoke hasn’t cleared from the Oval Office shouting match between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump, but the fallout is already a five-alarm fire for Ukraine. What started as a high-stakes bid to secure a minerals-for-aid deal and lock in American support ended with raised voices, a canceled press conference, and Zelensky storming out of the White House early.

Trump’s parting shot on Truth Social – “He’s not ready for Peace” – wasn’t just a jab; it was a knife in the back. Three years into Russia’s meat-grinder invasion, Zelensky is right to seriously question the United States’ commitment to helping Ukraine secure a just and equitable peace. Trump famously said that Ukraine had no cards to play – but is that true? 

Kyiv has targeted Moscow’s energy infrastructure throughout the Kremlin’s three-year full-scale offensive, hitting sites that supply fuel to Putin’s war machine or provide cash for Russian aggression.

A major fire broke out at an oil refinery in Ufa, the largest city and the capital of Russia’s Bashkortostan, in the early hours of March 3, according to reports from Russian Telegram channels. Residents claim they heard the sound of drones in the area before the incident.

Kyiv has targeted Moscow’s energy infrastructure throughout the Kremlin’s three-year full-scale offensive, hitting sites that supply fuel to Putin’s war machine or provide cash for Russian aggression.

The London summit makes progress, but clarity and leadership are still wanting.

As Ukraine’s Western backers slowly inch towards a “coalition of the willing” with a new UK-French-led peace plan, they still lack a strong voice to lead the effort and are reluctant to go it alone without the US.

Friday’s clash between US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky blew up the longstanding wartime Western alliance in support of Ukraine, alarmed Kyiv’s allies, and triggered a wave of publicly displayed support.

In just over a month Trump and his team – a kakistocracy if ever there was one – have introduced chaos in international foreign and security policy at a level never previously experienced.

To understand the true scale and scope of the geopolitical shift in US foreign policy, we need to examine the Trump administration’s policy statements towards its allies and partners as well as its Russia strategy. In doing so, we are witnessing the emergence of an unthinkable alliance between Putin and Trump that puts Europe in peril.

The future of NATO

According to The New York Times, the decision is part of a broad Trump administration reassessment of Washington’s strategy toward Moscow. However, the duration and scope of the pause remain unclear.

US Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has ordered a pause on all cyber operations against Russia, including offensive actions, multiple media reports said Sunday, March 2.

According to The New York Times, the decision is part of a broader Trump administration reassessment of US strategy toward Moscow. However, the duration and scope of the pause remain unclear.

US Republicans had suggested he may have to resign after US President Donald Trump dramatically turned against him during a contentious Oval Office meeting about the war with Russia on Friday.

Volodymyr Zelensky told British media Sunday it would not be easy to replace him as Ukraine’s president, but repeated his offer to step down in exchange for NATO membership for his war-torn country.

US Republicans had suggested he may have to resign after US President Donald Trump dramatically turned against him during a contentious Oval Office meeting about the war with Russia on Friday.

Trump’s desire to bring peace to Ukraine quickly but in his haste for a speedy resolution the fear is Russia will avoid being held responsible for starting it and all that it did in pursuing it.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has made ending the war in Ukraine a top priority. But European allies worry that in the rush for a quick resolution, Washington is giving the Kremlin exactly what it wants - letting Russia off the hook for launching the largest war in Europe since World War II and allowing it to walk away without consequences.

The fallout from the Munich Conference has only deepened those concerns. For the first time in decades, European leaders are openly questioning the role of the US as the continent’s security guarantor. Is that perception justified? And could abandoning Ukraine prove to be one of the biggest strategic missteps in modern U.S. history?

In this highly mobile war keeping Ukraine’s armored and lightweight combat vehicles on the road is essential. Kyiv Post takes a closer look.

The Ukrainian army has been engaged in continuous combat operations for three years and is constantly seeking and finding new ways to maximize its capabilities and limited resources. One of these innovations comes from Ukrainian engineers. Kyiv Post previously showcased the Novator combat vehicle, the capability of which impressed foreign partners particularly because it was created under wartime conditions.

But Ukrainians continue to push forward. Instead of makeshift workshops and relying on civilian service stations and tire repair shops, they have now developed and produced vehicle-mounted mobile workshops equipped with the necessary tools that will allow them to be deployed anywhere and fix damaged equipment on site.

Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.

Key Takeaways from the ISW:

• Recent Russian official statements in response to the proposed US-Ukraine mineral deal indicate that the Kremlin is trying to sabotage the deal through narratives targeting Ukrainian and American audiences. The Kremlin is claiming that this mineral deal does not benefit Ukraine while also claiming that Russia can make a better offer to the United States, indicating that Moscow sees the deal as harmful to its objectives.
• The Kremlin has a vested interest in preventing the United States and Ukraine from signing a mineral deal, as the deal will commit the United States to a long-term investment in Ukraine and Ukraine’s sovereignty.
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is attempting to exploit discussions between the United States and the EU about the possible deployment of European peacekeeping forces to Ukraine as part of a future peace settlement in order to reinvigorate the Kremlin’s demands for regime change in Ukraine.
• European leaders demonstrated their commitment to supporting Ukraine at a defense summit in London on March 2.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Toretsk, and Russian forces recently advanced near Velyka Novosilka.

The Trump administration’s approach to peace negotiations is based not only on a patently wrong assessment of the situation, but also on a disingenuous motivation.

Peace initiatives involving the United States, Russia, and Ukraine now seem to be tied to geopolitical haggling and the control of Ukraine’s rare earth elements and mineral resources. In pursuit of the deal, some of Washington’s most highly ranked players wish to re-write and deliberately misunderstand history.

To set the record straight: Ukraine did not provoke Russia. Ukraine did not threaten Russia. Russia invaded Ukraine – and one of the principal reasons Russia did so was to steal Ukraine’s natural resources. Embarrassingly, it now seems the United States wants a piece of Ukraine as well as peace.

A story about artists on Ukraine’s front lines was one five nominees in the category, but it lost out to a documentary shot in Palestine.

Ukraine’s top hope for an Academy Award this year fell just short at Sunday night’s Oscars, losing out to a documentary about an alliance between an Israeli journalist and a Palestinian activist in Jerusalem’s war in Gaza.

Ukraine’s submission, “Porcelain War”, was one of five nominees in the Best Documentary Feature category, but the Oscar went to “No Other Land,” made by a Palestinian-Israeli collective.

“It is our policy to continue what happened in the past, we’re constructive,” Zelensky said, quoted by the BBC.

Ukraine is ready to sign a minerals deal with the United States, President Volodymyr Zelensky told UK media on Sunday.

“The agreement that’s on the table will be signed if the parties are ready,” he told a late-night huddle with some UK media after a landmark summit in London.