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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CNN or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: European leaders are rallying around Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after his tense and disastrous Oval Office meeting with U.S.
• President Donald Trump. Trump’s administration is questioning Zelensky’s willingness to negotiate peace, while Britain and France are working on a new peace framework
• The transatlantic divide over Ukraine is widening, with Trump pushing for rapprochement with Russia
🔭 The context: Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated and expelled Zelensky from the White House, marking a turning point in U.S. foreign policy
• Trump’s team suggests Zelensky should step down if he cannot negotiate peace, drawing comparisons to Winston Churchill
• Meanwhile, European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, have embraced Zelensky and proposed a month-long truce
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The rift between the U.S. and Europe on Ukraine could reshape global security dynamics and NATO’s future
• If the U.S. withdraws support, Europe may struggle to compensate due to years of military downsizing
• Any instability in Ukraine risks prolonged conflict, increased displacement, and potential environmental damage from warfare
⏭️ What's next: Europe plans to draft a peace plan that could be presented to Trump as a basis for negotiations with Russia
• Trump’s stance on Ukraine remains uncertain, but his administration’s rhetoric suggests he may cut aid and intelligence support
• European nations now face an urgent need to bolster their defense capacities if the U.S. steps back
💬 One quote: “We need a leader that can deal with us, eventually deal with the Russians, and end this war.” — Mike Waltz, Trump’s National Security Adviser (See sustainability performance of energy & mining companies like Aramco and Avangrid)
📈 One stat: The U.S. has provided over $75 billion in military, economic, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion
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