**Russia and US Re-establish Cooperation**
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on February 27 that Moscow and Washington are ready to re-establish cooperation. He praised the Trump administration for its “pragmatism” during a meeting of the Federal Security Service’s (FSB) board.
**New Talks Between Russia and US**
The Trump administration has been working to improve relations with Russia. U.S. and Russian officials met in Riyadh on February 18 and Istanbul on February 27. Putin said that these contacts are “inspiring certain hopes.” However, he also claimed that some Western countries are dissatisfied with the restoration of Russian-American relations and want to create instability in the world.
**Concerns Over Ukraine**
The talks between Russia and the US have sparked concerns over Ukraine. The country was excluded from the talks in Saudi Arabia, which has raised fears that the Trump administration is trying to sideline Kyiv. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he wants European allies to be involved in peace negotiations.
**Russia’s Demands**
During the talks in Riyadh, Moscow allegedly demanded that the US withdraw NATO forces from eastern Europe as a condition for “normalizing relations.” However, the U.S. delegation reportedly rejected this demand.
**Ukraine’s Military Situation**
The situation on the ground in Ukraine remains tense. Russian troops are actively pushing forward in eastern Donetsk Oblast and have launched 166 Shahed-type attack drones against Ukraine overnight. Ninety drones were shot down over 11 oblasts, while 72 decoy drones were lost without causing damage.
**International Support for Ukraine**
The international community continues to support Ukraine. The UK Prime Minister is heading to Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump and convince him to continue playing a role in ensuring Ukraine’s security amid Russian aggression. The EU faces major challenges in this effort, including an undersized defense industry and empty stocks after delivering billions in arms and ammunition to Ukraine.
**Aid to Ukraine**
The international community is providing aid to Ukraine. Finland has announced that it will provide material aid packages to the country, including demining equipment. Australia has also provided 20 million Australian dollars ($12.6 million) for demining, food and energy security, and the protection of children.
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