As Ukraine's Kursk operations collapse and wider fears grow regarding the viability of Ukraine's armed forces, the US is rushing to freeze the conflict, create a European-occupied buffer zone in Ukraine, and buy time to rearm and reorganize Ukraine's forces for the next round of fighting.
References:
US DoD - Hegseth Calls on NATO Allies to Lead Europe's Security, Rules Out Support for Ukraine Membership (Feb. 12, 2025):
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4064571/hegseth-calls-on-nato-allies-to-lead-europes-security-rules-out-support-for-ukr/
US DoD - Opening Remarks by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at Ukraine Defense Contact Group (As Delivered) (Feb. 12, 2025):
https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/4064113/opening-remarks-by-secretary-of-defense-pete-hegseth-at-ukraine-defense-contact/
DW - Germany set to spend big on army and infrastructure (Mar. 5, 2025):
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-set-to-spend-big-on-army-and-infrastructure/a-71834527
Guardian - EU chief unveils €800bn plan to ‘rearm’ Europe (Mar. 4, 2025):
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/04/eu-plan-to-bolster-europes-defences-could-raise-800bn-for-ukraine
US DoD - Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Greets the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Defence John Healey and Takes Questions From the Press (Mar. 6, 2025):
https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/4111493/secretary-of-defense-pete-hegseth-greets-the-united-kingdoms-secretary-of-state/
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Foreign Ministry Statement regarding French President Emmanuel Macron’s speech (Mar. 6, 2025):
https://mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/2001760/
NYT - Ukraine Must Cede Territory in Any Peace Deal, Rubio Says (Mar. 10, 2025):
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/10/us/politics/rubio-ukraine-russia.html
Reuters- Trump threatens Russia with sanctions until Ukraine peace agreed (Mar. 7, 2025):
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-threatens-russia-with-sanctions-until-ukraine-peace-agreed-2025-03-07/
Politico - US to reinstate aid to Ukraine after Saudi cease-fire talks (Mar. 11, 2025):
https://www.politico.eu/article/us-ukraine-russia-saudi-cease-fire-talks-after-talks-in-jeddah/
BBC - Putin lays out his terms for ceasefire in Ukraine (Jun. 2024):
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c033eyyr20do
Marco Rubio (X) - “ball is in Russia’s court” (Mar. 12, 2025):
https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1899547555286991005
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (X) - “ball is in Russia’s Court: (Mar. 12, 2025):
https://x.com/vonderleyen/status/1899538326438261074
UK PM Keir Stamer (X) - “ball is in Russia’s court” (Mar. 12, 2025):
https://x.com/Keir_Starmer/status/1899551808873189674
French President Emmanuel Macron (X) - “ball is in Russia’s court” (Mar. 12, 2025):
https://x.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1899564938030723243
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Representative Kaja Kallas (X) - “ball is in Russia’s court” (Mar. 12, 2025):
https://x.com/kajakallas/status/1899560735065223536
BI - Elon Musk says he'll never turn off the Starlink terminals in Ukraine (Mar. 10, 2025):
https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-starlink-will-never-turn-off-terminals-in-ukraine-2025-3
UK Gov - Advanced attack drones for Ukraine in new deal struck by UK government and Anduril UK (Mar. 6, 2025):
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/advanced-attack-drones-for-ukraine-in-new-deal-struck-by-uk-government-and-anduril-uk
WP - U.S. suspends commercial satellite imagery service to Ukraine (Mar. 8, 2025):
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/03/07/maxar-ukraine-sateliite-imagery/
Maxar - Maxar Awarded $14+M Contract by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence for Multi-Year Access to Maxar Geospatial Platform Pro (Jan. 9, 2025):
https://www.maxar.com/press-releases/maxar-awarded-14-m-contract-by-the-netherlands-ministry-of-defence-for-multi-year-access-to-maxar-geospatial-platform-pro
USAID Continuity of Agenda
Fox News - Trump official gives pivotal update on possible minerals deal with Ukraine (Mar. 10, 2025):
https://youtu.be/l5-UheN0CBg?si=Wchl24h_7rbxYT8i&t=263
Marco Rubio (X) - post on making USAID more efficient (Mar. 10, 2025):
https://x.com/marcorubio/status/1899021361797816325
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