Zelensky Meets U.S. Envoy to Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine met with President Trump’s special envoy in Kyiv on Thursday—a day after a public feud between the Ukrainian and American leaders threatened to derail diplomatic efforts toward peace talks, as the NYT reports.

U.S. Objects to Phrase ‘Russian Aggression’ in G7 Statement on Ukraine

The U.S. is opposing calling Russia the aggressor in a G7 statement on the third anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, threatening to derail a traditional show of unity, as the FT reports.

Hamas Turns Handover of Dead Hostages Into a Grim Spectacle

Hamas displayed coffins that it said held the bodies of four Israeli hostages before a crowd of militants while handing them over to Israel on Thursday, in a spectacle that included taunts and anti-Israel slogans. Each coffin had a photo of a hostage on it, including two young redheaded children, as well as a picture of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over which was written “The Killer,” as the WSJ reports.

Executive Education

As the Trump administration pushes forward its policy agenda, Washington is experiencing significant shifts in power structures and bureaucratic processes. Join Decoding D.C.: Policy, Power, and People from March 24-27, 2025 for a guide to navigating the city's distinctive culture, policy dynamics, and political constructs. Register here by March 12.

Audio Briefs

CSIS now offers audio versions of our latest analysis. Listen to the latest Commentary by CSIS's Seamus P. Daniels, "What Are Key Milestones and Decisions Affecting U.S. Defense Spending in 2025?"

In That Number

1.8 percent

European stocks are enjoying their best start to a year since the late 1980s and their strongest performance relative to the U.S. in almost a decade as the euro has gained 1.8 percent against the dollar over the past month.
Source: FT

Critical Quote

“There are no words. Our hearts — the hearts of an entire nation — lie in tatters.”

—Israeli President Isaac Herzog

iDeas Lab

Russia increasingly relies on one-way attack drones to sustain its attack on Ukrainian critical infrastructure and political centers consistent with their concept of noncontact war and using long-range precision strike assets. Read the full analysis here.

The Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS enhances our research with the latest in cutting-edge web technologies, design, and multimedia.

Optics

(Photo credit: Vitalii Nosach/Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images.) President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky talks with United States Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg during a meeting on February 20, 2025 in Kyiv, Ukraine.

This Town Upcoming

On Monday at 8:00 a.m., the CSIS Chair on India and Emerging Asia Economics hosts its annual event featuring leading experts from top rating agencies, offering critical insights into economic trends shaping India’s economic trajectory.

Then, at 2:00 p.m., the CSIS Defense and Security Department discusses Russia’s war in Ukraine and the prospects for peace, given the current state of the conflict.

Later, at 4:00 p.m., the CSIS Aerospace Security Project welcomes space industry and international partners to discuss NASA's Moon to Mars roadmap and their plans for future missions to the Red Planet and beyond.

Video

This weeks episode of 'Conflict in Focus,' a new limited series that delves into the hard-earned lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war, focuses on lessons from the land domain. Watch the first episode here.

Podcasts

CSIS’s Max Bergmann, director of the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, joins the podcast to discuss the current state of European security, the potential for a U.S.-Europe tech war, how Ukraine negotiations might evolve, and more.

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

All this talk about Sly Stone has me thinking about Prince, of course—and how much the world misses his genius. This video underscores the influence of Sly on Prince and spotlights his extraordinary talent.

I invite you to email me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz

The Evening is my daily guide to key insights CSIS brings to the events of the day. It is composed by Lauren Adler, Ava Rose, and the External Relations team.