Good Evening,
It's Wednesday, February 19th. |
Trump Zelensky Feud
The feud between President Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky escalated rapidly on Wednesday, with Trump calling him a “Dictator without Elections” and Zelensky accusing Trump of repeating Russian propaganda, as the WSJ reports. |
Chinese Warships Sail Within 150 Nautical Miles of Sydney
The Australian navy is shadowing Chinese warships 150 nautical miles east of Sydney, the furthest China’s navy has sailed down the eastern Australian coast, as the FT reports. |
Hostage Families Question Netanyahu
The families of hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza demanded Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explain the lack of progress on stalled negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire, describing the delays as a “clear and tangible” danger to their loved ones, as The Washington Post reports. |
Executive Education
As the Trump administration pushes forward its policy agenda, Washington is experiencing significant shifts in power structures and bureaucratic processes. Join from March 24-27, 2025 for a guide to navigating the city's distinctive culture, policy dynamics, and political constructs. Register by March 12. |
Audio Briefs
CSIS experts give short, spoken-word summaries on the biggest takeaways from their latest reports, white papers, and commentaries—in their own words.
Listen here: "Ukraine’s Future Rests on Its People: Strengthening Ukraine’s Workforce and Human Capital" with CSIS's Romina Bandura. |
In That Number
€6 billion
EU countries are preparing a military aid package worth at least €6 billion for Ukraine as it seeks to shore up Kyiv's strategic position at the outset of U.S.-led talks with Russia, according to three EU diplomats.
Source: Politico |
Critical Quote
“A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left.”
—President Donald Trump |
iDeas Lab
'Conflict in Focus' is a new limited series that delves into the hard-earned lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war—pre-conflict strategies, battlefield adaptations, and their lasting impact. Episodes will air weekly, starting February 24. Watch the trailer 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: Ercin Erturk/Anadolu/Getty Images.) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hold a joint press conference following their bilateral and inter-delegation meetings at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkiye, on February 18, 2025. |
Recommended Reading
"How Spectrum Auction Delays Give China the Edge and Cost Us Jobs" by CSIS's Matt Pearl before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. |
This Town Tomorrow
At 10:00 a.m., the Defense and Security Department launches a new series featuring CSIS's Military Fellows on the latest battlefield tactics in the Russia-Ukraine war and the complexities of modern warfare.
Later, at 2:00 p.m., the CSIS Japan Chair hosts a conversation on prevailing themes in the U.S.-Japan alliance.
And, at 4:30 p.m., the Carnegie Endowment welcomes Senator Chris Coons for a discussion on the future of foreign policy. |
Video
Yesterday, the CSIS Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department hosted a discussion on the ways in which U.S. allies and partners in the West and in the Asia-Pacific region are navigating the new administration’s policies. Watch the full video here. |
Podcasts
The Trade Guys are joined by special guest Doug Irwin, the John French Professor of Economics at Dartmouth College and a leading trade policy expert, to discuss Trump's trade policy.
Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. |
Smiles
Let’s do one more legendary performance from the absolutely incredible Sly and the Family Stone. |
| I invite you to email me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz |
