Europe rallies behind Ukraine after Trump, Zelenskyy meeting

After Friday’s heated meeting at the White House between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Britain’s prime minister calls on more than a dozen fellow European leaders to step up in support of Ukraine and help end the war with Russia. And warm, dry conditions lead to wildfires across the Carolinas, prompting evacuations over the weekend as firefighters fought against flames, smoke and strong winds. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, March 3, 2025.

Europe rallies behind Ukraine after contentious meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy

Europe has rallied to support Ukraine after last Friday’s White House meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ended tensely. The meeting escalated into an argument in front of the international press.

White House staff escorted Zelenskyy out and the mineral deal the two leaders were supposed to sign was put on hold.

On Sunday, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer rallied his counterparts from across Europe to strengthen their borders and support Ukraine as he announced plans to end Russia’s war.

Starmer said he worked with France and Ukraine to come up with a plan that hinges on four steps to achieving peace.

Step one would ensure aid flows into Ukraine while keeping economic pressure on Russia.

The next step: to assure Ukraine remains part of any peace negotiations and that any deal ensures Ukraine’s sovereignty and security. European allies also plan to continue to arm Ukraine to deter future invasions.

For the final step, allies would create a “Coalition of the willing” to defend Ukraine and guarantee peace. The British leaders called on the U.S. to take part.

“Not every nation will feel able to contribute, but that can’t mean that we sit back. Instead, those willing will intensify planning now with real urgency,” Starmer said.

He continued, “The U.K. is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air. Together with others, Europe must do the heavy lifting. But to support peace on our continent and to succeed, this effort must have strong U.S. backing.”

The British prime minister said he’s working on a formal plan to present to Trump.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said he believes his country’s relationship with the U.S. can be saved after Friday’s meeting in the Oval Office with Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Zelenskyy also said he’s still willing to sign the deal, which would give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, such as graphite, titanium, lithium and uranium.

US to halt offensive cyber operations against Russia: Reports

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered U.S. Cyber Command to suspend offensive and information operations against Russia, according to multiple reports.

The move raised some concerns that the U.S. will now be more vulnerable to cyberattacks from Moscow.

CISA’s mission is to defend against all cyber threats to U.S. Critical Infrastructure, including from Russia. There has been no change in our posture. Any reporting to the contrary is fake and undermines our national security.

— Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (@CISAgov) March 3, 2025

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said in a statement, “[Its] mission is to defend against all cyber threats to U.S. critical infrastructure, including from Russia. There has been no change in our posture.”

The reported move comes as Trump works to re-establish diplomatic ties with Russia after the Biden administration all but cut them off in support of Ukraine. It also comes just days after Trump’s contentious exchange with Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday.

A senior U.S. defense official would not comment on the reports due to “operational security concerns” but told multiple outlets, “there is no greater priority to Hegseth than the safety of the warfighter in all operations, to include the cyber domain.”

Canada’s independence is top priority for Trudeau, King Charles meeting

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet with Britain’s King Charles III on Monday, March 3. Trudeau plans to discuss Trump’s repeated insistence that Canada become America’s 51st state.

Trudeau traveled to London for Starmer’s meeting on supporting Ukraine.

Charles has faced criticism from Canada for his silence on Trump’s remarks.

Ahead of the meeting, Trudeau said nothing is more important to his citizens than “standing up for our sovereignty and our independence.”

Last week, Charles invited Trump to Scotland for a state visit, and Trump said he would be honored to go. So far, no date has been set.

Israel bars Gaza aid in attempt to force Hamas into ceasefire extension

Israel has stopped the delivery of aid into Gaza as a means to force Hamas into extending a ceasefire deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would halt the entry of food and other supplies, claiming it never reached the Palestinians in need and accused Hamas of stealing the aid instead.

The move comes after Israel said it agreed to an American plan to extend the ceasefire in Gaza.

Netanyahu said, “Israel has accepted President Trump’s envoy Steve Wittenberg’s plan to extend the temporary ceasefire by 50 days. During that time, we can discuss the conditions for a permanent ceasefire that will end the war in Gaza.”

He continued, “In Witkoff’s plan, half of the hostages would be released right away, and the remaining half would be released if we reach an agreement on a permanent ceasefire. Again, Israel has accepted this plan. I accepted this plan. But so far, Hamas has rejected it.”

Hamas currently has 59 Israeli hostages, 35 of whom are believed dead.

The White House has backed Netanyahu’s decision to withhold Gaza aid, with National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes telling Fox News, “We will support their decision on next steps given Hamas has indicated it’s no longer interested in a negotiated ceasefire.”

Hamas said the move is “cheap extortion, a war crime and a blatant attack on the ceasefire agreement.”

Wildfires erupt across the Carolinas

Spring has come early to many parts of the country, that includes higher temperatures and dry conditions.

It was a windy weekend in several states, including North and South Carolina, where multiple dangerous wildfires erupted.

In South Carolina, nearly 200 fires burned a 6-and-a-half-square-mile area. The governor declared a state of emergency to support firefighting efforts.

A fire in the Carolina Forest, west of Myrtle Beach, forced residents to evacuate. Some ran from their neighborhoods as smoke filled the sky.

Fortunately, the South Carolina Forestry Commission said flames have not destroyed any homes and so far nobody has been injured. A total of about 4,000 acres are on fire in that state.

In North Carolina, the U.S. Forest Service said firefighters battle various wildfires in four different forests across the state. The largest is about 400 acres, 50 miles east of Charlotte. That fire is about one-third contained.

Residents of Polk County were forced to evacuate over the weekend as a fire quickly charred about 500 acres. The North Carolina Forest Service was conducting water drops and back burns to contain the fire.

‘Anora’ leads with five wins at 97th Academy Awards

The 97th Academy Awards took place Sunday evening in Los Angeles, and one movie topped all the rest with five wins. “Anora,” the story of a strip club dancer who elopes with the son of a Russian oligarch, won best picture.

Also, Mikey Madison won best actress for her starring role in the film and Sean Baker won best director.

Adrien Brody took home best actor for his role in “The Brutalist” as a holocaust survivor who escapes and comes to the United States to live the American dream.

Zoe Saldana won her first Oscar for best supporting actress for her portrayal of a lawyer in the film “Emilia Perez.” Saldana told the audience that she was the daughter of immigrant parents and the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award.

Kieran Culkin took home the award for best supporting actor for his role as Benji in the movie, “A Real Pain.”