Latest news bulletin | February 25th – Evening
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Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/02/25/latest-news-bulletin-february-25th-evening
Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages
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NewsTranscript
00:00The U.S. is set to offer Ukraine a security deal in exchange for access to its resources.
00:11Three years into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Euronews visited the front lines to witness
00:16the devastation and hear from those affected.
00:22Syria's interim leaders host a national dialogue conference intended to help establish the
00:26country's political future.
00:30The United States is set to offer Ukraine a bilateral agreement aimed at securing the
00:36country's future in exchange for shared access to its resources via a reconstruction investment
00:42fund.
00:44A draft of the proposal, seen by Euronews, shows Ukraine would contribute 50% of the
00:50fund's revenues, rising to 66% for any territory liberated from Russian occupation until the
00:56contributions reach the sum of $500 billion.
01:01The deal would also require Ukraine to contribute twice the amount the U.S. provides in aid,
01:07in exchange for a long-term financial commitment to the reconstruction of the country after
01:12the war.
01:14Tensions between Ukraine and the U.S. escalated after President Donald Trump labeled President
01:20Zelensky a dictator, while also sending U.S. officials to hold bilateral talks with Russia.
01:28Trump's comments prompted European leaders to come out in defense of Zelensky, with an
01:33emergency summit on Ukraine's future in defense scheduled for the 6th of March.
01:39The new agreement is expected to be finalized by the 26th of February, though neither the
01:45U.S. nor Ukrainian governments have yet commented.
01:53The United Nations General Assembly refused to adopt a U.S. resolution that urges an end
01:58to the war in Ukraine.
02:00Washington's proposal failed to make mention of Russia's aggression in its invasion that
02:04violates the U.N. Charter.
02:07Three European proposed amendments were made to the U.S.-backed resolution before it was
02:11voted on, adding language that firmly acknowledges Moscow's aggression.
02:16Today, we mark the three years since the beginning of Russia's illegal and unprovoked full-scale
02:24invasion of Ukraine.
02:26We reiterate our resolute condemnation of this flagrant violation of international law.
02:33The General Assembly has demanded an early end to this war of aggression and a just,
02:39lasting and comprehensive peace in Ukraine, in line with the U.N. Charter.
02:47Russia voted against the resolution, claiming that Europe did not acknowledge the root causes
02:51of the conflict, leading to another anti-Russia piece of paper.
02:55The U.S. also voted against the amendments to their proposal, which passed with 93 votes
03:17in favor, 18 against, and 65 abstentions.
03:22Washington also put forward its resolution to the legally binding U.N. body, the Security
03:27Council, which did pass.
03:30This resolution puts us on the path to peace.
03:34It is a first step, but a crucial one, one of which we should all be proud.
03:40Now we must use it to build a peaceful future for Ukraine, Russia and the international
03:47community.
03:50The resolution received 10 votes in favor at the 15-member Council.
03:55The five abstentions came from France, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia.
04:06The Ukrainian army is fighting a decisive battle on the Pokrovsk front line in the Donetsk
04:11region of eastern Ukraine.
04:20Fears that Russian troops could capture or bypass the nearby city of Pokrovsk and move
04:36deeper into the country are higher than ever.
04:46Most of the town's population was evacuated.
04:49Those remaining are hard to convince.
05:05We head to western Donbass.
05:08This is Ukraine's major coal mining basin, a crucial industry for the country's energy
05:12supply and a potential target for Moscow.
05:17The area's oldest mine is operating full swing, with the help of an increasing number of women
05:23as more and more men are being mobilized.
05:26Oksana fled her hometown of Barmut in the Donetsk region.
05:30Her father and eldest son were killed in the Russian bombings two years after she'd lost
05:35her mother and husband to Covid.
05:47She found a second breath at the mine and also in this dance school.
05:57A choreographer before the war, Oksana now gives dance classes to teenage girls.
06:16I walked exactly the same streets of Kiev three years ago, in the first hours of Russia's
06:38full-scale invasion, and the atmosphere back then was completely different from the way
06:44it feels now.
06:45There was lots of shock, there was lots of frustration, and there was lots of fear.
06:49The streets here in Kiev were empty as people were hiding and staying in the bomb shelters.
06:56Now, today, in February 2025, the atmosphere is completely different.
07:02Kiev is welcoming today 13 world leaders and the European Commission who are here to show
07:08their support to Ukraine.
07:11What has not changed is this feeling of resilience and also the feeling of determination of the
07:18Ukrainians to continue to defend their country from Russia's war of aggression three years
07:25on.
07:26Sasha Vakulina from Kiev for Euronews.
07:35Syria's interim leaders have kicked off a long-awaited national dialogue conference
07:40intended to help establish the country's political future.
07:44De facto President Ahmed al-Shara, the leader of the Islamist insurgent group that toppled
07:49Bashar al-Assad, has promised an inclusive political transition.
07:54He also said all of Syria's communities were invited to the conference.
08:11The gathering is meant to come up with non-binding recommendations for the country's interim
08:24rules ahead of the drafting of a new constitution and formation of a new government.
08:30Syria's leadership is hoping to rebuild diplomatic ties with Arab and Western countries and push
08:35for the removal of crippling sanctions imposed during al-Assad's rule.
08:43Pope Francis remains in critical condition but has shown a slight improvement in laboratory
08:48tests and resumed some work.
08:50The Vatican's latest update about the pontiff's health came on Monday as the Catholic and
08:55Christian faithful around the world continue to pray for the Pope's health, including in
09:00his home country, Argentina.
09:05Fr. Francisco, we are with you.
09:08Like that deaf-mute of the Gospel, we also want to stand up and take the hand of Mary
09:16of Lujan, of whom we know you are so devout, and we ask you not to be weak, because we
09:22need you very much.
09:24Long live Pope Francis!
09:26Long live Pope Francis!
09:28Long live Pope Francis!
09:30At St. Peter's Square, the Catholic faithful also held a vigil to send best wishes to
09:35the Pope.
09:36The 88-year-old Francis, who is battling pneumonia in both lungs, has been in critical condition.
09:42Despite showing a slight improvement, his nearly two weeks of hospitalisation stands
09:48as France's longest as pontiff.
09:51Former European Commission President José Manuel Barroso has described Germany's likely
09:57next chancellor as a resolute person, who understands the country's priorities in terms
10:03of the economy and defence.
10:05Friedrich Merz, what I know from him, is a much more, let's say, resolute, determined
10:11person, stronger also in his style, with clear ideas.
10:16I think he's going to make it clear the priorities for Germany being the economy and defence,
10:22which for me is obvious.
10:24That's where the politicians in Germany should focus their attention.
10:28Merz's conservative CDU emerged as the largest party in Sunday's federal elections, although
10:35he will now have to begin coalition talks with the centre-left Social Democrats before
10:41he can secure his position as chancellor.
10:45Merz has so far outlined three key topics in these negotiations, curbing migration,
10:51strengthening the economy and determining Europe's foreign and security policy.
10:57He has also pledged to make Europe more independent from the United States, something Barroso
11:03described as exceptional.
11:06Friedrich Merz has been an Atlanticist.
11:08He's a pro-American.
11:10In fact, his professional life, working also with United States companies and so on, so
11:16he has no prejudice against the United States.
11:18On the contrary, but considering the latest developments, he thinks it's important to
11:23show leadership at the European level.
11:25And that is what I think Europe needs now.
11:28Merz has, however, emphasised that he will do everything he can to continue to build
11:33He will do everything he can to continue a good transatlantic relationship with the
11:37United States, even if this may be more difficult with the new Trump administration.