French President Emmanuel Macron believes that a potential US withdrawal from Ukraine is not in Washington's interest, as it aligns with traditional diplomatic and military practices. If the US agrees to a ceasefire without guarantees for Ukraine's security, its geostrategic deterrent capacity towards Russia, China, and others will be lost simultaneously.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/953649-macron-warns-if-putin-is-not-stopped-he-will-certainly-head-for-moldova-and-maybe-further-on-to-romaniaIndonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahendra has expressed support for Palestine's independence and urged the international community to provide assistance to Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are homeless and lack access to basic necessities. He also discussed the challenges faced by Palestinian students in Indonesia whose visas have expired and need extension, as well as the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza which was damaged due to Israel's attacks. Mahendra emphasized Indonesia's long-standing support for Palestine since 1948 and called on Arab countries to unite in their support for an independent Palestine.
https://en.antaranews.com/news/346813/indonesia-will-issue-new-visas-for-palestinian-students-minister?utm_source=antaranews&utm_medium=desktop&utm_campaign=popular_rightMalaysia's chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has set several economic priorities, including completing Protocol 2 to the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement and signing the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement. The country aims to increase trade and investment, promote economic integration and growth, and support inclusive and sustainable regional development through digital transformation. Deputy Minister Dyah Roro Esti met with ASEAN member countries and partners, including Singapore, to explore new cooperation opportunities and strategies for completing negotiations. Indonesia has also made progress in its talks on the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement, targeting substantial completion this year.
https://en.antaranews.com/news/346709/ri-backs-asean-economic-priorities-under-malaysia?utm_source=antaranews&utm_medium=desktop&utm_campaign=popular_rightRussian President Vladimir Putin is boosting his military presence in Belarus, a Kremlin vassal state, near Poland and the Baltics. If he believes US President Donald Trump won't protect East European NATO allies, Putin might target Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania, which have small armies and limited allied support. However, invading these countries could trigger World War III. To deter further aggression, Europe's NATO allies must quickly increase defense spending and cooperation, potentially requiring higher taxes and borrowing from Britain and other nations.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14451379/MARK-ALMOND-Whats-Ukraine-really-brink-World-War-Three.htmlLithuanian President Nausėda has proposed that the EU use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine's military and provide an additional €20bn in defense aid. He also suggested strengthening the EU's defense industry, investing more in defense, and exploring joint projects with the UK and Norway. Nausėda plans to discuss these issues with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on March 2 and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday, leading to a special European Council on March 6.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3965860-nauseda-outlines-three-urgent-eu-steps-to-support-ukraine.htmlIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has adopted a proposal by US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan and Passover, which would last until March 31 and April 20. The truce is conditional on Hamas releasing half of the living and dead hostages on the first day, with the remainder released at the conclusion if an agreement is reached on a permanent ceasefire. However, Hamas has rejected this proposal, saying it is committed to the original ceasefire deal and wants to move forward with negotiations for a permanent end to the war. The fragile truce has been marred by violence, including Israeli gunfire that killed four Palestinians in separate attacks in Gaza. Egyptian sources say Israel sought to extend the first phase of the ceasefire, while Hamas wants to move to the second phase.
https://channelnewsasia.com/world/israel-blocks-aid-gaza-ceasefire-standoff-escalates-4970666Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a new proposal to extend the ceasefire in Gaza through Ramadan and the Jewish Passover holiday, contingent on Hamas releasing all remaining hostages. The plan, reportedly from US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, calls for half of the hostages to be released immediately and the rest when a permanent ceasefire is reached. However, an Egyptian official stated that Hamas would not accept returning the remaining hostages without ending the war, while a UN agency warned about the humanitarian consequences of delaying aid deliveries. The proposal comes as Israel has suspended aid to Gaza, sparking concerns about the impact on the population, which relies heavily on international assistance due to the ongoing conflict and Israeli blockade.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/israel-says-stopping-entry-of-all-aid-supplies-into-gaza-strip/article69281400.ecePrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced a potential extension of the ceasefire with Hamas, proposed by US Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, which could lead to the release of 59 Israeli hostages being held in Gaza during Ramadan and Passover.
https://whyy.org/articles/israel-stops-aid-delivery-to-gaza/Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu proposed a corridor for negotiations on the second phase of a ceasefire with US mediator James Witkoff, stating Israel is ready to enter talks if Hamas agrees to an extension. However, Netanyahu warned that Israel reserves the right to resume fighting in Gaza if negotiations are ineffective, citing a US letter affirming this position. He also claimed Hamas is abusing humanitarian aid sent to Gaza, using it as a "terrorist budget" against Israel, and threatened additional consequences if more hostages are not released.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/netanyahu-says-fully-coordinated-with-trump-over-extending-phase-1-of-gaza-ceasefire-for-50-days-13868062.html