Tuesday morning news: February 25, 2025

Trump-Macron at White House » While talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine have only just begun, President Trump says he is very optimistic. He told reporters at the White House:

TRUMP:  I think the war could end soon.

REPORTER: How soon?

TRUMP: Within weeks. Yeah, I think we could end it within weeks — if we're smart..

The president heard there in the Oval Office during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron Monday. The two leaders talked trade and defense, but discussions about peace in Ukraine topped the list.

For his part, Macron says he sees a real opportunity.

MACRON: President Trump is a game-changer. And I think he has the deterrence capacity of the U.S. to re-engage with Russia.

But Macron emphasized that early concessions on Moscow’s part should be measurable and must be verified.

Kyiv summit » Meantime, in Kyiv, Ukrainians marked the three-year anniversary Monday of Russia’s full-scale invasion. And President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hosted a summit of leaders from allied nations. Some stressed the importance of keeping the pressure on Russia as peace talks begin.

British British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pushed back on a recent comment by President Trump that the Russians—quote—“have the cards” after capturing a lot of Ukrainian territory.

STARMER:  Russia does not hold all the cards in this war because Russia's economy is in trouble and because they have now lost the best of their land forces and their Black Sea fleet in this pointless invasion.

Starmer announced another new round of sanctions against Russia.

And European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen said the West must speed up its delivery of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine.

U.S.-Ukraine ties » And the United States is still backing Ukraine. Despite President Trump’s recent criticism of President Zelenskyy, the Trump administration has not cut off support to Kyiv.

And a deal appears to be in the works regarding rare earth minerals that may help address President Trump’s frustrations over US aid provided to Ukraine thus far.

TRUMP: The deal’s being worked on. And we’re, I think, getting very close to getting an agreement where we get our money back over a period of time.

A partnership agreement would give the United States access to rare earth minerals in Ukraine. Those minerals are critical to making advanced technologies, both commercial and military. And China currently dominates the global supply.

The White House says the partnership would also be lucrative for Kyiv.

It’s believed that such a deal would contain some security guarantees for Ukraine.

SOUND: [Israeli tanks]

Israel / Tanks in West Bank » Israeli tanks were seen moving into the West Bank yesterday. It's the first such deployment in more than 20 years...when Israel responded to a wave of Palestinian suicide bombings.

Israel's foreign minister says the tanks are necessary to keep his country safe.

SA'AR: What we are doing in what you call West Bank and we call Judea and Samaria, is defending our security. It's military operations taking place there against terrorists and no other objectives but that, but this one.

Israel says the operation may last as long as a year, and in the meantime, West Bank residents who fled will not be allowed to return to their homes.

Israel / Hostages » Meanwhile, the parents of two Israeli hostages still held by Hamas say their sons were forced to witness the release of six of their fellow hostages on Saturday. A camera recorded their reactions, and their pleas that they also be freed.

Ilan Dalal is the father of one of the hostages:

DALAL: On one hand it is a sign of life...But in the other hand, we saw the cruelty of Hamas where they... just torturing them by letting them see their friends go home and bringing them back to the tunnels.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is delaying the release of 600 Palestinian prisoners...citing what he characterizes as the humiliating ceremonies that take place when Israeli hostages are freed.

Ramaswamy announces Ohio gubernatorial bid » Businessman and former Republican Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is running for another elected office.

RAMASWAMY:  I am honored to announce my candidacy to serve as the next governor of the state of Ohio!

He made the announcement near his hometown of Cincinnati.

If elected, Ramaswamy would succeed term limited GOP Gov. Mike DeWine.

SONG: [Killing Me Softly]

Roberta Flack obit » Singer and pianist Roberta Flack has died. The Grammy-winning artist was known for hits like “Where is the Love?” and “Killing Me Softly With His Song …”

SONG: [Killing Me Softly]

She became an overnight star in the early 1970s after Clint Eastwood used her song “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” in one of his films.

Flack died Monday surrounded by her family. She was 88 years old.

I'm Kent Covington.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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