Germany has put together a last-minute €3 billion package for Ukraine before the German Government changes following the recent elections. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius added that this rapid financing is part of a larger coalition between the CDU/CSU and SPD parties. If all goes to plan, they should be able to finance more air defense systems and their necessary missiles for Ukraine with this package.


The European Union has announced an unprecedented €800 billion investment to bolster the European defense industry following Donald Trump’s new policy regarding Ukraine and Europe. The funds will be allocated over the next four years, with €150 billion in the form of a loan. The funds will be used for the production of air defense systems and the modernization of defense infrastructure among EU member states. Part of the funds will be used to produce weapons for Ukraine. President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said Europe will boost defense spending by a cumulative 1.5% of GDP each year, and that last year the European Union spent 1.9% of GDP collectively. This proposal was taken to a vote where 26 of the 27 European Union countries agreed, with Hungary as the only no vote, as Hungarian President Viktor Orbán consistently votes no on such issues regarding Ukraine. Additionally, Europe’s militarily neutral countries, Austria, Ireland, and Malta have also cautiously indicated they are increasingly on board with the bloc's defense moves. The UK and Norway have announced that they will increase military spending as well.


President Zelenskyy has confirmed that Ukraine will send a delegation to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, for US-led peace talks with Russia next week on Monday, March 10. Zelenskyy’s delegation will remain in Saudi Arabia to work with the Americans. Zelenskyy added on his official Telegram channel,”As we told President Trump, Ukraine is working and will work exclusively constructively for a quick and reliable peace.”


An emergency meeting led by the UK and France of 20 European countries was held in Brussels to discuss Ukraine's security following Donald Trump’s freezing of aid to Ukraine. At the meeting which UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer referred to as a “coalition of the willing,” a wide range of topics were discussed regarding Ukraine, security, a peace plan, and security guarantees. Some ideas floated were that fighter jets could be deployed in Ukraine to protect the skies, and troops to be deployed in Ukraine. The UK and France will provide satellite intelligence as alternatives to the United States, following their freeze of intelligent sharing. Belgium also reported the concern that the F-16s they pledged to Ukraine will most likely not be delivered this year. Additionally, several countries announced increases to military aid to be sent to Ukraine as well as more direct military aid package packages. Some of these developments are covered in further detail below.


Norway will increase aid to Ukraine to €6.8 billion, which is double its previous commitment. Norwegian leaders approved this funding on Thursday. Prime Minister Støre says Norway faces its worst security threat in 80 years. Norway might use its €1.7 trillion wealth fund to provide more support to Ukraine. The fund made €109 billion from gas prices and €205 billion profit in 2024. Norway will spend €277 million to buy military equipment from Ukraine's defense industry, and will spend another €51.5 million on drones.


Turkey announced that it is ready to send peacekeepers to Ukraine. President Erdogan discussed this with Zelenskyy and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. NATO countries have been discussing a peacekeeping mission for weeks. Macron will hold a meeting next week about future peace guarantees.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​


Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni proposed providing Article 5 protection to Ukraine without NATO membership. She believes this would provide long-term security for Ukraine. Meloni stated that this would be more effective and less complicated than other options, like deploying peacekeeping forces.


The European Sky Shield initiative is gaining support as discussions about a potential truce in the Russia-Ukraine war continue. The Sky Shield, first proposed in 2022, aims to deploy jets from European countries to defend Kyiv and western Ukraine from Russian missiles and drones, without NATO involvement. The protected airspace would cover key areas like nuclear power plants, Odesa, and Lviv, but not the front lines or eastern Ukraine. The initiative has faced criticism claiming that it would escalate the conflict, but supporters argue that the risk to pilots is low since Russia has not used its warplanes beyond the front line since 2022. To implement the plan, a coalition of 120 fighter jets would be needed, along with radar, refueling, and electronic warfare support.

French President Macron will discuss expanding France's nuclear umbrella to cover the rest of Europe in order to deter Russia. He called Russia a threat to France and Europe. Macron said France would keep exclusive control of its nuclear weapons. France has about 290 nuclear warheads. Its nuclear forces include four submarines with long-range missiles and fighter jets with cruise missiles.

France will speed up military aid to Ukraine to replace reduced US support, French Defense Minister Lecornu announced on Thursday. France offered to provide intelligence support that the US stopped giving. CIA Director Ratcliffe confirmed that there is a pause in intelligence sharing between the US and Ukraine and that the UK has been banned from sharing US intel with Ukraine. President Trump has suspended all US military aid to Ukraine, including weapons already promised and approved but not yet delivered. Macron will host European military chiefs next week to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine. The cancellation of intelligence support threatens Ukraine’s ability to launch longer-range strikes against Russian targets and undermines Ukraine’s capacity to prepare and respond to Russian missile and drone threats.


US National Security Advisor Waltz says Ukraine must start peace talks with Russia to get US intelligence and weapons again claiming that the US has "taken a step back" from supporting Ukraine. The US’s allies may reduce intelligence sharing with America. They worry sensitive information might be shared with Russia. Israel, Saudi Arabia, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand are reviewing their protocols.

The UK ordered Altius 600M and 700M drones for Ukraine in a deal worth €35.9 million. Anduril UK will deliver these drones “within the next few months.” The Altius 600M carries payloads of up to 3 kilograms, flies for 4 hours, and has a 273-mile range. The Altius 700M has a 15-kilogram warhead and a 99-mile range.

The Netherlands will invest €704.6 million in drone production, partly for Ukraine. Prime Minister Schoof discussed this with President Zelenskyy. Schoof promised continued military, financial, and other aid. The Netherlands has given €6.0 billion in military support to Ukraine since Russia's invasion.

Lithuania withdrew from the international convention prohibiting the purchase, use, and production of cluster munitions. Parliament voted on July 18, 2024, to withdraw from the convention, with the decision officially taking effect on March 6, 2025. Defense Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas justified the move citing Russia's use of such munitions and Lithuania's need to employ all possible means of defense. Lithuania now plans to procure cluster munitions in cooperation with allies and is considering withdrawal from the Ottawa Treaty which restricts the use of landmines within the coming months.​


EU sanctions that limit the goods that can be transported by rail have caused freight using Lithuanian rail to reach Kaliningrad to drop by 30% in 2024. Trucks cannot replace the rail, as the goods are not allowed on EU roads. The only increase is in cement shipments, which grew by 20,000 tonnes. Russia is now looking for alternatives, mainly using ships to transport goods. Around 30 ships are currently providing this transport service. Russia also planned to build rail ferries for freight across the Baltic Sea. By the end of 2024, Russia spent €48 million on subsidies for sea shipping to Kaliningrad.


Russians attacked Odesa Oblast with drones on the evening of March 6. The attack damaged houses and energy infrastructure. Three houses caught fire in the Odesa suburbs. No injuries were reported. A previous attack on March 5-6 night hit an energy facility, damaged buildings, and injured two people. This is the fifth DTEK energy facility targeted in two weeks.


Russia launched a missile strike on Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on the evening of March 5. The attack damaged a hotel, causing a fire. A 60-year-old woman died in the hospital from injuries sustained during Russia's missile strike. The death toll is now five people. According to Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, 32 people were injured in the attack, with 22 still hospitalized. President Zelenskyy noted that foreign volunteers from various countries had checked into this hotel shortly before the attack.

Quote of the Day:
"Give me liberty, or give me hedgehogs!"

– Patrick Henry