United States

Ukraine

Russia

Politics

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

At a press conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered an initial reaction to the March 11 U.S.-Ukriane offer for an interim 30-day Russia-Ukraine ceasefire and resumption of negotiations over a peace settlement, Reuters reported on March 13.

Ukraine, Russia: Putin Responds to 30-day Ceasefire Offer

Military & Security

According to a U.S.-Ukraine joint statement, Ukraine is prepared to accept a U.S. proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire with Russia that can be extended following all parties' mutual agreement, Reuters reported on March 11.

Ukraine, U.S.: Washington and Kyiv Propose 30-day Ceasefire to Russia, Resume Paused Cooperation

Russia claimed it shot down 343 drones in an attack that constituted the largest drone attack by either side in terms of the total number of drones used since the war, Agentstvo reported March 11. 

Ukraine, Russia: Kyiv Launches Largest-Ever Drone Attack on Russia as U.S.-Ukraine Delegations Meet

Europe

Economics

At the conclusion of a special summit in Brussels, 26 EU leaders endorsed a declaration supporting Ukraine, setting red lines for peace talks, backing Kyiv's EU accession and committing to future military aid -- though without a specific target, Politico reported on March 7.

EU, Ukraine: EU Backs Ukraine Without Hungary, Stalls on More Aid

Slovakia

Hungary

The European Union is holding a special summit in Brussels, Belgium, to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war and broader security issues, Euronews reported on March 6. 

EU: Bloc Holds Special Summit To Discuss Ukraine and Defense

The United States ceased intelligence sharing with Ukraine as a result of the Feb. 28 Oval Office meeting between U.S. and Ukrainian officials that also led to the suspension of U.S. military support, the Financial Times reported on March 5. 

U.S., Ukraine: U.S. Suspends Intelligence Sharing With Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump directed his administration to stop the delivery of already authorized military support to Ukraine, formalizing a freeze on further disbursements of U.S. military aid to the country that commenced shortly after Trump took office in January, Reuters reported March 4.

U.S., Ukraine: Trump Pauses All Military Support to Ukraine, Formalizing Earlier Aid Freeze

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a plan to strengthen defense spending across the European Union, according to a March 4 press release from the European Commission.

EU: Brussels Unveils Defense Spending Plan, Delays Increased Support for Ukraine

Assessments

A photo taken on Jan. 15, 2025, shows a muddy track running through a forest in Sumy, Ukraine, that Ukrainian soldiers use to transport American Stryker armored fighting vehicles during Ukraine's ongoing cross-border operation into Russia's Kursk region.

Intensified Russian attacks will likely soon force Ukrainian troops to exit Russia's Kursk border region, which could make Moscow more open to ceasefire talks by weakening Kyiv's negotiating leverage.

Ukraine's Withdrawal From Kursk Appears Imminent Amid Russian Advances

Snapshots

U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak and Ukrainian Minister of Defense Rustem Umerovto attend a meeting between the US and Ukraine hosted by the Saudis on March 11, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Ukraine has agreed to a U.S.-backed 30-day ceasefire with Russia, but its success depends on Moscow's acceptance and broader unresolved issues.

Temporary Truce in Sight? U.S. and Ukraine Push for 30-Day Ceasefire with Russia

Canada

Saudi Arabia

South Korea

India

Canadian flags are seen outside a building in Ottawa. 

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Canada's Ruling Liberals Pick a New Leader, India and the EU Hold Trade Talks 

Columns

On Geopolitics

China

A digital map illustration of Russia.

U.S.-China Relations

The White House believes that restoring ties with Moscow will help it negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine and, more importantly, undermine Russia-China relations in the long run. But numerous potential pitfalls mean this approach is unlikely to pay off.

The Rationale and Risks of Trump's Push to Reengage With Russia

France

United Kingdom

Ukrainian flags are flown alongside EU flags outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Feb. 24, 2025, for the third anniversary of Russia'’s large-scale invasion.

Amid the prospect of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, European leaders are mulling putting boots on the ground in Ukraine to help deter Russian aggression, which could take several forms, each varying in effectiveness and feasibility.

Weighing the Options for a European Deployment in Ukraine

Mexico

Israel

Palestinian Territories

A truck drives toward the Canada-U.S. border crossing in Blackpool, Canada, on Feb. 2, 2025.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: An EU Summit on Ukraine, U.S. Tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China

Minerals are loaded onto trucks at an open-pit mine in Ukraine's Donetsk region, near the frontline of the war with Russia, on Feb. 26, 2025.

The deal, while largely political for now, could influence the course of the war by justifying continued U.S. aid to Ukraine, potentially delaying any ceasefire with Russia.

The Viability and Potential Impact of the U.S.-Ukraine Minerals Deal

South Africa

Germany

The Reichstag on Jan. 22 in Berlin. The center-right alliance between the Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, is widely expected to emerge as the largest bloc in the Bundestag after the Feb. 23 general election and lead the next coalition government.

The Weekly Rundown: German Elections, Macron and Starmer Meet Trump

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Crowds of Palestinians gather to receive food outside a U.N. aid distribution center in the Gazan city of Deir al-Balah on Nov. 2, 2024.

Social Issues

The displacement of any Palestinians from the Gaza Strip will further erode post-World War II norms against population transfers, laying the groundwork for future global conflicts.

Trump's Gaza Plan Risks Further Eroding Global Constraints on Population Removals

(Left to right) U.S., Saudi and Russian officials attend a meeting in Riyadh on Feb. 18, 2025.

While the talks open the door to a ceasefire, the exclusion of Ukraine and its European partners creates the risk of a deal that is not enforced and fails to end the fighting.

What To Expect From U.S.-Russia Talks on Ukraine

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ethiopia

Kenya

Rwanda

Lebanon

Sri Lanka

Damage on Feb. 13 in the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza.

The Weekly Rundown: Mideast Ceasefires and Arab Gaza Proposals, the AU Summit

Ecuador

Jordan

Jordan's King Abdullah II speaks to the press in the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 12, 2024.

The Weekly Rundown: Trump Meets With India and Jordan's Leaders, Ecuador Holds Elections

<p>Ukraine is the quintessential borderland state. The country borders three former Soviet states (Russia, Belarus and Moldova) and four countries in the European Union (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania). Ukraine also has a coastline along the Black Sea to the south. Ukraine sits on the Northern European Plain, the area that has historically served as an invasion superhighway going east and west. Beyond its strategic location, Ukraine&#39;s geography has only facilitated such invasions. The country consists of flat and fertile plains, with the exception of the Carpathian Mountain range that arches into the far west of the country. But even these mountains can be penetrated and have not posed a significant barrier to invasion. Given such lack of barriers, Ukraine&#39;s wide-open geography is inextricably linked to that of Russia. Ukraine&#39;s agricultural and industrial belts have traditionally been integrated with Russia&#39;s, and Ukraine serves as the primary transit state for Russian energy exports to Europe. Due to its location and abundance of agricultural and mineral resources, Ukraine has been contested between regional powers for centuries. This competition is currently playing out in an extreme form today, with a Western-backed government confronting a Russian-backed uprising in eastern Ukraine. Further complicating the situation is the fact that Ukraine has several population and political cores, including Lviv in the west, Kiev in the center and the eastern cities of Donetsk and Luhansk. These different cores make administering Ukraine difficult. The current crisis in Ukraine is therefore merely the latest iteration of the country&#39;s internal divisions and the long-standing East-West conflict over the country. Maintaining sovereignty and unity in the face of this competition is Ukraine&#39;s primary geographic challenge.</p>

SITUATION REPORTS

Ukraine, Russia: Putin Responds to 30-day Ceasefire Offer

Ukraine, U.S.: Washington and Kyiv Propose 30-day Ceasefire to Russia, Resume Paused Cooperation

Ukraine, Russia: Kyiv Launches Largest-Ever Drone Attack on Russia as U.S.-Ukraine Delegations Meet

EU, Ukraine: EU Backs Ukraine Without Hungary, Stalls on More Aid

EU: Bloc Holds Special Summit To Discuss Ukraine and Defense

U.S., Ukraine: U.S. Suspends Intelligence Sharing With Ukraine

U.S., Ukraine: Trump Pauses All Military Support to Ukraine, Formalizing Earlier Aid Freeze

EU: Brussels Unveils Defense Spending Plan, Delays Increased Support for Ukraine

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