World Briefing: February 25, 2025
A US resolution calling for a “swift end” to the war in Ukraine passed the UN Security Council with the backing of Moscow and Beijing in a vote that dealt the latest blow to western unity under Donald Trump’s presidency. The passage of the resolution, which was backed by China and Russia, laid bare splits between the US and some of its closest allies. France and the UK did not veto the measure, but they abstained from voting on it, after failing in a last-ditch effort to delay the final vote. The passage of the US measure marked a turning point for the UN’s long-held stance on the war. Since 2022, the body has backed Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while noting Moscow’s aggression. It has also called for Russian forces to immediately withdraw from Ukraine. However, the final US resolution passed on Monday did not include language to this effect, despite efforts by France, the UK, Denmark and Slovenia to include it. Russia also suggested language to bring the measure more in line with its views of the conflict, though its efforts failed as well. “This resolution puts us on the path to peace. It is a first step, but a crucial one, one of which we should all be proud,” the US’s UN representative Dorothy Shea said. “Now we must use it to build a peaceful future for Ukraine, Russia and the international community.” France’s representative Nicolas de Rivière, explaining his decision to abstain, said: “There will be no peace and security anywhere if aggressions are rewarded, and if the law of the jungle wins.” - FT
Watch my CNN interview (above) with Eleni Giokos to learn how the above actions by the Trump administration sends a very regrettable message to dictators worldwide.
Meanwhile, in a bizarre White House press conference following their bilateral talks, Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron seemed to have emerged with two different versions of what peace for Ukraine meant. Trump used the opportunity to trumpet on several occasions his accomplishments and how the war in Ukraine would’ve never have started under his leadership. Macron, on the other hand, pushed for western peacekeeping forces in Ukraine and security guarantees. In what will likely create unpleasant backlash for him back home, Macron was almost fawning in his praise for the US president. Earlier, in a presser in the Oval Office, the two contradicted each other on whether European aid to Ukraine was a loan or an outright grant, with Trump ridiculing his guest’s explanation.
After their White House meeting, public broadcaster France 24 declared that Trump and Macron managed to “rekindled the most touchy-feely bromance in world politics.” It wrote: “They hugged, they gripped hands, they touched knees and they backslapped,” it reported. British journalist Piers Morgan, a long-term friend of Trump, said their latest display at the White House showed that Macron knew what he was doing. "No world leader handles Trump as well as Macron. Friendly but firm, respectful but not afraid to stand up to him when he thinks he's wrong. And Trump respects him for it," Morgan said on X.
The US will this week offer Ukraine a bilateral agreement which would guarantee the security of the country in exchange for joint share of the country's resources through a "Reconstruction Investment Fund", according to a draft of the document seen by Euronews and a source familiar with the proposal. The bilateral agreement and the associated fund agreement "will constitute integral elements of the architecture of bilateral and multilateral agreements, as well as concrete steps to establish lasting peace", according to the document. The draft agreement states that the US will maintain 100% financial interest in the fund, and will co-manage it jointly with Ukraine "to advance the economic value associated with the resources of Ukraine, including but not limited to mineral resources, oil and gas resources, and infrastructure and ports, until the fund is fully funded." The fund will operate during the period of defending reconstructing and returning Ukraine to its year end 2021 GDP figure, according to the draft. 50% of contribution from the revenues to the fund is expected by the government of Ukraine, minus operating expenses, but there is an uplift in the contribution to 66% in respect of any territory currently occupied by Russia which may be de-occupied. Contributions to the fund by Ukraine would continue "until the contributions reach the sum of USD 500 billion" according to the document. The draft document seen by Euronews is dated 21 February 2025, but the source said that it was intended that the document be approved this Wednesday (26 February), "with no variations". - Euronews
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Monday that he plans to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the next two weeks to sign an agreement on natural resources. Trump again described the agreement as a form of compensation for assistance already rendered to Ukraine: “The deal is being worked on where we get our money back over a period of time. But it also gives us something [that] is very beneficial to their economy, to them as a country. But we’re in for $350 billion. How we got there, I don’t know. But that’s a lot of money. A lot of money invested, and we have nothing to show for it. […] The Europeans are in for about $100 billion, and they do it in the form of a loan. And the Europeans have been great on this issue. They understood it wasn’t fair, and we were able to work something out. But, with the Ukrainians, I think I can say that we’re very close [to an agreement].” The U.S. and Ukraine are weeks deep in negotiations on a controversial agreement to grant American firms rights to Ukrainian natural resources. According to The Economist, Ukrainian officials have met with three groups of U.S. negotiators, each pushing its own version of the agreement. The Economist has described the deal as a mafia-style “offer Ukraine cannot refuse.” - Meduza
House Republicans in the US are suddenly facing angry voter revolts back at home over Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency. Some of them are reportedly in a “panic” about DOGE’s increasingly destructive cuts and firings. Meanwhile, Musk just ordered federal employees to list their accomplishments or risk termination. But some senior Trump administration officials defied Musk, telling employees they had no obligation to respond. What if Musk’s DOGE effort is shaping up as a full-blown fiasco for President Trump and the GOP? How should Democrats capitalize? - The New Republic
Talks between Germany’s Christian Democratic Party (CDU) and Social Democrats (SPD) are to begin within the next couple of days, CDU leader Friedrich Merz announced during a press conference in Berlin on Monday. Merz said that initial talks about establishing a black-red coalition have already taken place and aims for the new government to be formed by Easter, which this year falls on 20 April. He highlighted his goal of steering Germany out of its economic crisis, particularly in light of the uncertain relationship with the US and the ongoing stagnation of Europe’s largest economy. Germany narrowly avoided a recession last year, but the economy is flagging, as many major companies, such as Volkswagen, Bosch and Ford, have announced thousands of job cuts. Merz is promising a strong government that will focus on restoring the economy with less interparty fighting, which plagued the "traffic light" coalition government over the past three years - Euronews
Pope Francis rested well throughout the night, according to the latest update from the Holy See Press Office. The Holy Father is being treated in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for bronchitis and pneumonia; a health update last week noted that he is also showing signs of mild renal insufficiency, which appears to be under control. A statement Monday evening noted that, despite the severity of the Pope’s condition, he has shown slight improvement. “No episodes of asthma-like respiratory distress occurred [Monday], and some laboratory tests have shown improvement. The monitoring of his mild kidney insufficiency has not raised any concerns. Oxygen therapy continues, although with slightly reduced flow and oxygen levels.” The statement said doctors are maintaining a “cautious" prognosis “given the complexity of the clinical picture.” - Vatican News
Chinese businesses are reportedly playing a key role in large-scale construction projects in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine. An investigation by Realna Gazeta has uncovered evidence that firms from China's Henan Province have partnered in the development of an industrial complex in the occupied Donetsk region. Between 2023 and 2024, two factories—one for concrete production and another for grinding—were rapidly built at the Karansky Quarry in the Volnovakha district with Chinese involvement. Russian state media have hailed the project as the centerpiece of a so-called "major development" effort, with its materials used for road construction and infrastructure projects not only in the occupied 'Donetsk People's Republic' and 'Luhansk People's Republic' regions but also in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. While Moscow remains tight-lipped about foreign investment, the findings suggest China's economic footprint in the region is deeper than publicly acknowledged.
Chinese authorities said they began live-fire exercises in the Gulf of Tonkin on Monday, only days after Vietnam announced a new line marking what it considers its territory in the body of water between the countries. China’s Maritime Safety Administration said the exercises would be focused on the Beibu Gulf area, closer to the Chinese side of the Gulf of Tonkin, and would run through Thursday evening. It gave no further details, but the drills follow an announcement last week by Vietnam establishing a baseline used to calculate the width of its territorial waters in the Gulf of Tonkin. State-run Vietnam News reported that the baseline was in compliance with the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea and would provide “a robust legal basis for safeguarding and exercising Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.” - AP
Ecuador has been thrust into utter chaos after a major drug lord escaped from prison over the weekend -- spurring cartel gang members to wreak havoc all throughout the country. Cities like Guayaquil and others are being subjected to stickups and raids on the behalf of thugs who are running amok in the streets ... storming TV stations, holding people hostage at gunpoint, and in many cases -- outright executions of law enforcement officials. The videos making the rounds online right now are absolutely stunning in the worst possible way -- these cartel killers are recording themselves indiscriminately opening fire in public. Ecuador's government has already issued a state of emergency, and military personnel has been deployed to get a handle on things. There've been countless arrests -- but it's unclear if this attempted crackdown will be effective ... Ecuador has been at the center of corruption allegations for years, so it remains to be seen if their criminal justice system can keep things in check there. - TMZ
