Friday Briefing: Trump’s trust in Russia

Plus, an inquiry into Gene Hackman's death.

View in browser|nytimes.com February 28, 2025 By Natasha Frost Good morning. We're covering a meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and an official report into Israeli military failures on Oct. 7, 2023. Plus: Remembering Gene Hackman. Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain meeting President Trump in the Oval Office. Doug Mills/The New York Times Trump said he trusted Putin to keep a Ukraine peace deal President Trump met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain in Washington yesterday. While sitting beside the British leader in the Oval Office, Trump repeatedly said that he believed that Vladimir Putin, Russia's leader, would not violate the terms of whatever peace deal might be reached to end the war in Ukraine. "I think he'll keep his word," Trump said. "I've known him for a long time now." His attitude toward Moscow could hardly be more different than Starmer's, who had come to the White House to pledge troops to a postwar peacekeeping effort, and to urge Trump not to abandon Ukraine to Putin's demands. Trump was asked whether the U.S. would aid Britain if it were to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine and Russia reneged on a peace deal. The president waffled. In the span of one minute, Trump seemed to say no, and then yes, before returning to no. "They don't need help," he said. Tariffs: Trump said that tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico would go into effect on March 4, claiming that the countries had still not done enough to stop the flow of drugs into the U.S. He said on social media that China would face an additional 10 percent tariff next week. Economists have warned that sweeping tariffs could cause prices to rise and set off trade wars. More on Trump The Times has identified 45 people within the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. This is who they are. Elon Musk said efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in Uganda were only "very briefly" canceled by accident. But at least four of the five contracts for Ebola-related work there were terminated, aid officials said. The Trump administration released a memo declaring that transgender troops would be forced out of the military. The Trump administration is curtailing the ability of lawyers to raise internal objections to the president's use of power. Senator Amy Klobuchar, the Minnesota Democrat, can't stop talking about egg prices. Track Trump's actions since he took office. A scene from Oct. 7, 2023, in Israel. Tamir Kalifa for The New York Times Israel's military laid out its failures on Oct. 7 The Israeli military yesterday released the first findings from its internal investigations into the colossal military and intelligence failure of Oct. 7, 2023, describing how senior officers vastly underestimated Hamas and then misinterpreted early warnings that a major attack was coming. The failure stemmed from flawed assumptions about Hamas's capabilities and intentions, Israeli military officials told reporters, as well as what has been called an "addiction" to precise intelligence, which was lacking. The military did not address years of government policy and decision-making leading up to the attack. Details: Israeli military officials said they had spent tens of thousands of hours probing the military's intelligence-gathering and its subsequent response to the attack, in which about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and 250 taken hostage, in the deadliest episode for Jews since the Holocaust. Gaza: Netanyahu sent a delegation to Cairo to hold further talks on extending the truce. Gene Hackman in 1973. Evening Standard/Getty Images An inquiry into Gene Hackman's death The actor Gene Hackman, who never fit the mold of a movie star but became one all the same, has died at 95. Hackman, his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog were found dead at their home in New Mexico. An open prescription bottle and scattered pills were discovered near her body on a counter in the bathroom. The sheriff's office is now investigating. Hackman was known for imbuing seemingly ordinary characters with subtlety and intensity in some of the most acclaimed films of the 1970s and '80s, including "The French Connection" and "Mississippi Burning." Here's a guide to 13 of his most memorable performances. See his life in pictures. MORE TOP NEWS Lauren DeCicca for The New York Times Myanmar: Hundreds of people were rescued in recent days from forced labor facilities that were dedicated to a multibillion dollar industry of online scams. Mexico: The Mexican government began sending to the U.S. dozens of drug cartel operatives wanted by the American authorities. China: Thailand sent 40 Uyghur asylum seekers back to China yesterday, drawing a sharp rebuke from U.N. officials and human rights activists. Turkey: The imprisoned leader of a Kurdish guerrilla movement that has fought the government for four decades called for the group to lay down its arms and dissolve. Vatican: Pope Francis' two-week hospital stay has posed uncomfortable, unanswered questions about who is leading decisions within the Catholic church. Austria: Three mainstream political parties in Austria said that they had reached an agreement to form a new government that excludes the far right. Romania: Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan Tate, who were facing sex crime inquiries in Romania, have returned to the U.S. Business: The founding family of 7-Eleven's Japanese parent company failed in its bid to buy it out. India: The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's largest spiritual gathering, has ended after six weeks. Canada: A search in Manitoba uncovered possible human remains from two victims of a serial killer, in a devastating case that spotlighted violence against Indigenous women. SPORTS NEWS Soccer: Why Germany's biggest soccer team is targeting the U.S. market. Broadcasting: Eurosport has appeared on British television for the last time. Golf: Is the indoor simulator league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy a success? Formula 1: On the second day of preseason testing in Bahrain, Lando Norris and McLaren were "on a different planet," said Toto Wolff, the Mercedes F1 chief. MORNING READ Amit Elkayam for The New York Times Yehonatan Indursky fled his life as an ultra-Orthodox Jew and was accepted to Israel's leading film school. He found international success as the creator of the hit Israeli drama "Shtisel," which depicts the community in which he grew up. But as he looked around for the next thing, he struggled to find inspiration, and his writing ran aground. In the years since, Indursky has made his way back to making television — and to religious devotion. Lives lived: Rose Girone, the world's oldest Holocaust survivor, has died at 113. Despite her hardships, she embraced life with urgent positivity and common sense. "Aren't we lucky?" she would often say. CONVERSATION STARTERS 'Vibecoding': With A.I., you don't need to be a programmer to create your own software. Screenland: Timothée Chalamet should win an Oscar for his Oscar campaign, a critic writes. A master cartoonist: Jaime Hernandez has been drawing "Love and Rockets" since 1982. His latest collection nods to his career and how he's changed with his creation. 'Superpod': A boat captain captured video of thousands of dolphins swimming off the California coast. ARTS AND IDEAS Sinna Nasseri for The New York Times An unpredictable Academy Awards The Oscars are on Sunday, and the race for best picture has been full of twists and turns. But at least the uncertainty has provided a break from years of winners that were practically preordained. Conan O'Brien will be hosting, despite fending off nerves of his own. ("I need the money," he quipped in an interview.) This season, "Emilia Pérez" was leading the pack for the big prize but got snarled up in social-media controversy. Now we think "Anora" has the strongest chance to win best picture, despite being shut out at the Golden Globes. Our columnist has more predictions. A global audience: Yura Borisov, who is up for best supporting actor for "Anora," is pleasing audiences at home in Russia as well as in the West. From Opinion: "Anora" was Michael Idov's favorite film of 2024. He still hopes it doesn't win. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS Craig Lee for The New York Times Cook: These spectacular pancakes with lemon and ricotta puff up like a soufflé. Primp: Charlize Theron shared her beauty regimen. Treat: Do you need a measles booster? Read: In her memoir, the actress Ione Skye talks about Hollywood, bisexuality and the trappings of Gen X fame. Wear: Ultra low-rise jeans are back. This time, they're on the men's runways. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. Have a great weekend. — Natasha Reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Europe Edition from The New York Times. To stop receiving Morning Briefing: Europe Edition, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018