Summary of the Day – March 1, 2025
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s contentious White House visit with President Donald Trump ended in diplomatic disaster on February 28, casting serious doubt on future U.S. military assistance to Ukraine. As senior Trump administration officials signaled they may cut all remaining aid to Kyiv, European leaders quickly rallied around Ukraine and prepared for a crucial summit in London. Meanwhile, Russia continued its grinding advances across multiple sectors of the front while deepening its alliances with America’s key adversaries.
U.S. Aid in Jeopardy: The Looming Cutoff
In the aftermath of the heated Oval Office confrontation—where Trump declared himself “for both Ukraine and Russia” and accused Zelensky of “gambling with World War III”—the Trump administration is now considering terminating all remaining military assistance to Ukraine, according to reports in both the New York Times and Washington Post. The decision, if implemented, could affect billions of dollars worth of radars, vehicles, ammunition, and missiles awaiting shipment under presidential drawdown authority.
The cessation of U.S. military assistance could significantly undermine Ukraine’s battlefield position. As ISW analysis notes, “Ukrainian forces, enabled by essential U.S. assistance, are inflicting unsustainable losses on Russian forces while holding them to marginal gains.” Without this aid, Russia would likely leverage the opportunity to seize more territory and attempt to exhaust European support.
Military aid is not the only support at risk. NBC News reported that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) had already been instructed to terminate initiatives aimed at restoring Ukraine’s energy grid—a decision finalized prior to Zelensky’s visit. “It significantly undercuts this administration’s abilities to negotiate on the ceasefire, and it’d signal to Russia that we don’t care about Ukraine or our past investments,” a USAID official told NBC.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz further underscored the administration’s skepticism about Zelensky’s intentions, stating, “It’s not clear that Zelensky truly wants to stop the fighting.” Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, once considered supportive of Ukraine, bluntly stated that Zelensky “is either going to have to fundamentally change or go.”
The European Response: Filling America’s Void
European leaders swiftly rallied around Zelensky following the diplomatic breakdown, recognizing that Trump’s policy shift necessitates a more assertive European security posture. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas declared, “Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for an “immediate” summit between the United States, EU, and Western allies, warning that “any division of the West makes us all weaker and favors those who would like to see the decline of our civilization.” On March 1, Italy announced a €13 million ($13.5 million) aid package for Ukraine’s Energy Support Fund to help restore critical infrastructure damaged by Russian attacks.
French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the moral clarity of the conflict, stating: “There is an aggressor, which is Russia, and an attacked people, which is Ukraine. We must thank all those who helped, and we must respect those who have been fighting since the beginning.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Zelensky to London on March 1, reaffirming that “We stand with Ukraine for as long as it may take,” and adding that Ukraine has “full backing across the United Kingdom.” The British government also signed an agreement to provide Ukraine with a loan worth £2.26 billion ($2.84 billion) backed by frozen Russian assets—part of the G7’s Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration credit initiative.
Starmer has organized a crucial European defense summit in London on March 2, gathering leaders from France, Germany, Italy, and other European nations to discuss joint defense issues and plans for Ukraine’s security. The gathering has gained new urgency following the White House confrontation, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joining the participants.
Battlefield Momentum and Military Adaptations
February proved to be the most devastating month for Russian military equipment since the start of the full-scale invasion, according to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry. Ukrainian forces destroyed 3,472 vehicles and fuel tanks, 596 armored combat vehicles, and 331 tanks during the month. Despite a decrease in the number of combat clashes compared to January (3,274 versus 5,087), the intensity of Russian aerial bombardment increased, with 3,522 guided aerial bombs deployed compared to 2,400 in January.
The equipment losses are forcing Russia to adapt its recruitment strategies. A Russian milblogger claimed on March 1 that Russian authorities are targeting vulnerable individuals, including those with alcoholism, developmental disabilities, and mental health disorders, through deception and coercion schemes to meet contract soldier recruitment quotas. The Russian Ministry of Defense has reportedly even recruited at least one prisoner convicted of sexual crimes, highlighting the systemic personnel shortages facing Russian forces.
Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Toretsk, with geolocated footage showing progress near Tolbukhina Street and near the Tsentralna Mine in central Toretsk. However, Russian forces maintained their offensive momentum in multiple sectors. In the Velyka Novosilka direction, geolocated footage confirmed Russian advances south of Burlatske. Russian forces claimed to have seized Skudne and Burlatske completely, though these claims cannot be fully verified.
Civilian Targeting and Occupation Practices
Russian forces continue to target civilian infrastructure across Ukraine. On the evening of March 1, a Russian ballistic missile struck the Odesa port, damaging infrastructure and a foreign civilian ship flying the flag of Panama. Two port employees were injured in the attack. This follows persistent targeting of shipping facilities, with Zelensky previously stating that Russia has damaged 321 port infrastructure facilities and 20 foreign merchant vessels since July 2023.
Russian drone attacks overnight on February 28 to March 1 resulted in significant civilian casualties. Twelve people, including two 6-year-old children, were wounded in a Russian drone strike on Kharkiv that damaged a hospital and other civilian infrastructure. Russian forces launched 154 Shahed-type drones, with Ukrainian air defenses downing 103.
Ukrainian Resilience and Adaptation
Within hours of the White House clash, Ukrainians and foreign donors sent over 27 million hryvnia ($649,000) to a fundraiser “for nukes” opened by Ukrainian businessman and Monobank co-owner Oleg Horokhovskyi. The provocative name references Zelensky’s previous statements that if Western allies won’t accept Ukraine into NATO, then the U.S. should provide alternative security guarantees such as nuclear weapons.
“About 70,000 participants from 61 countries,” Horokhovskyi wrote on March 1. “After Ukraine, the U.S. donates the most, followed by Poland. Thank you, friends! Americans and Poles are our closest friends and allies beyond any doubt.”
Nuclear Safety Concerns
A new team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) arrived at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine on March 1, marking the first time the agency’s monitors reached the site through occupied territory. The Moscow-appointed head of the plant said the rotation of inspectors was facilitated by Russian forces and followed extensive talks between the heads of Russia’s state nuclear company, Rosatom, and the IAEA.
The IAEA has maintained a presence at Zaporizhzhia and Ukraine’s other nuclear facilities since September 2022, aiming to monitor risks and ensure nuclear safety. The agency has consistently warned that ongoing hostilities in the area pose serious dangers. Despite its efforts, security concerns around the plant remain unresolved as fighting continues in the region.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has urged both Ukrainian and Russian forces to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could jeopardize the plant’s safety. The rotation of inspectors, delayed due to military activity around the site, represents a small step toward maintaining international oversight of this critical nuclear facility.
Cyber Operations Suspended
In a move aligned with Trump’s broader engagement with Russia, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered U.S. Cyber Command to suspend offensive cyber and information operations against Russia. The decision will remain in effect while diplomatic discussions between the two countries continue.
Cybersecurity experts have warned that the move benefits one of America’s most persistent cyber adversaries, potentially weakening U.S. leverage in both cyber and conventional military domains. The pause includes operations that typically expose or disrupt Russian malware before it can be deployed against American systems.
The order contradicts the administration’s stated intent to adopt a more aggressive cyber posture against U.S. adversaries. National security adviser Michael Waltz had previously suggested a shift toward stronger cyber deterrence, particularly against China and Iran, but notably omitted Russia from his comments.
Conflicting European Reactions
While most European leaders rallied around Ukraine, several politicians considered pro-Russian expressed approval for Trump following his clash with Zelensky. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban thanked Trump on social media: “Today President Trump stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest.”
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze wished Trump “endurance and courage in this difficult struggle,” claiming that “President Trump and his peace efforts were condemned one after another by the people responsible for unleashing a bloody war.” Tino Chrupalla, one of the leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, stated that peace in Ukraine should be achieved even without Zelensky’s participation.
These divisions highlight the complex geopolitical landscape facing Ukraine as it navigates the shifting terrain of international support. With the London summit approaching and European leaders scrambling to respond to America’s potential disengagement, fundamental questions about Ukraine’s security framework remain unresolved.
The Path Forward: Europe’s Security Dilemma
As Zelensky prepares for the London summit, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called on him to mend relations with Trump, emphasizing it was “important that President Zelensky finds a way to restore his relationship with the American president.” However, Zelensky firmly rejected the idea of stepping down after the Oval Office meeting, stating, “This decision can only be made by the people of Ukraine.”
UK Prime Minister Starmer plans to deliver a stark message to European leaders at the summit, urging them to confront the “brutal reality” of growing security threats and commit to higher defense spending. He believes that demonstrating Europe’s ability to shoulder more responsibility may prevent Trump from fully disengaging from Ukraine.
For Ukraine, navigating between American pressure for rapid peace and maintaining the territorial integrity and security guarantees it considers essential will define not only the coming diplomatic encounters but potentially the nation’s long-term sovereignty and independence. With American support now in serious question, Europe’s willingness to assume greater security responsibilities may determine Ukraine’s future ability to resist Russian aggression—and the ultimate shape of any peace settlement.