The world marks the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. And the Trump administration announces new leadership at the FBI. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Feb. 24, 2025.
World marks 3 years of war in Ukraine; US pushes draft UN resolution
Leaders from across Europe and Canada traveled to Ukraine on Monday, Feb. 24, to mark three years of the country’s war with Russia. At the same time, the Trump administration pushed for the United Nations to back its third-anniversary draft resolution rather than one crafted by Kyiv and backed by Europe.
Multiple news sources reported that the U.S. urges Ukraine to retract its resolution, but Ukraine has declined.
The United Nations General Assembly will vote on both resolutions Monday, but the Trump administration also asked the more powerful Security Council to vote on its proposal. China holds the Security Council presidency this month and has scheduled a vote on the U.S. resolution for Monday afternoon.
The biggest difference between the two resolutions is the U.S. does not demand the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine or identify Russia as the aggressor in the war.
In a statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. has “proposed a simple, historic resolution to the United Nations” that’s “consistent with President Trump’s view that the U.N. must return to its founding purpose…to maintain international peace and security, including through the peaceful settlement of disputes.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would resign if it meant peace in Ukraine or NATO membership.
NATO membership for Ukraine was already unlikely anytime soon. Still, it looks even more out of reach since U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week that it was not realistic for a negotiated settlement to the war.
The United States has begun peace talks with Russia to end the war. U.S. officials said the two countries have agreed to reestablish diplomatic ties and restart economic cooperation.
On Saturday, Feb. 22, Russia’s foreign ministry said preparations for a face-to-face meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin were underway.
Last week, the Trump administration’s special envoy, Keith Kellogg, spent two days in Ukraine speaking directly with Zelenskyy.
Israel sends tanks into occupied West Bank for first time in 20 years
Israel has deployed tanks into the occupied West Bank for the first time in over twenty years, announcing that residents who have been “evacuated” will not be permitted to return. This is the latest action in Israel’s “Operation Iron Wall,” a military campaign that commenced last month, just two days after the Gaza ceasefire with the terrorist group Hamas began.
Israel’s defense minister said he ordered the military to “prepare for a prolonged presence” in Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank for the “coming year” to “prevent the return of residents and the resurgence of terrorism.” Palestinian authorities called the move a “dangerous escalation.”
The new military movement comes as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas gets more tenuous by the day.
Over the weekend, Israel was set to release more than 600 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for six Israelis taken hostage when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, but it did not follow through. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said their release would be delayed “until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies.”
A senior Hamas leader said the militant group would not take part in any negotiations to extend the ceasefire until all the prisoners who were supposed to be released Saturday have been returned.
Conservatives win German election that saw surge in far-right support
Germany’s presumptive new chancellor appeared to plan to meet with Israel’s prime minister. The Times of Israel reported Monday morning that Netanyahu’s office stated he had a “warm conversation” with Friedrich Merz after his party emerged victorious in Germany’s elections over the weekend.
According to Netanyahu’s office, Merz would invite Netanyahu to Germany. Doing so would go against the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Netanyahu.
In the hours after presumptively winning the election, Merz also said Europe must seek to “achieve independence” from the U.S.
The key issues of the election were the stagnation of Europe’s biggest economy and pressure to curb migration in Germany.
Merz is a conservative businessman who has never held a government role. According to preliminary official results, his center-right Christian Democratic Union and its sister party won about 29% of the vote, and he’s now set to lead Europe’s biggest economy and most populous state.
The election saw a surge in far-right support, though. The Alternative for Germany party came in second with about 21% of the vote. That party has been suspected of extremism in the past.
Trump weighed in on Truth Social, saying the conservative party in Germany has won the highly anticipated election. He called it a great day for Germany and the U.S.
