Tuesday Briefing: Trump pauses aid to Ukraine

Plus, U.S. tariffs take effect.

View in browser|nytimes.com March 4, 2025 By Natasha Frost Good morning. We're covering the suspension of U.S. aid to Ukraine, and tariffs for Canada, China and Mexico. Plus: Will you wear fur this winter? President Trump had an explosive confrontation with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine in the Oval Office on Monday. Doug Mills/The New York Times A pause on U.S. military aid to Ukraine President Trump suspended the delivery of military aid to Ukraine yesterday, according to senior U.S. officials, who said the pause would stay in effect until Trump determined that Ukraine had demonstrated a good-faith commitment to peace talks with Russia. The order was to take effect immediately, affecting more than $1 billion in arms and ammunition in the pipeline and on order. Earlier in the day, President Volodymyr Zelensky returned to Ukraine after a whirlwind diplomatic mission that included both humiliation, by Trump in a confrontational Oval Office meeting, and a warm embrace, from European leaders. Zelensky vowed to use all diplomatic avenues to pursue an end to the war, but he said there was "a long way to go." Russia has given no indication that it will accept any terms but Ukrainian capitulation and permanent conquest of a large swath of Ukraine — and Trump appears set on standing with Moscow. Ukrainians say they will not lay down their arms unless they receive security guarantees, supported by the U.S., that would prevent another Russian attack. Support: Britain and France have promised that a "coalition of the willing" will secure a truce. But how many countries will step up, and does that even matter, given Russia's rejection of such a coalition as part of any settlement? (Read about what the cost of defending Ukraine may mean for investors in Europe.) Warfare: Drones now do most of the killing in the war, causing about 70 percent of deaths and injuries, commanders say. The tariffs set to go into effect Tuesday would add a 25 percent fee on top of Mexican and Canadian exports coming across the border, and an additional 10 percent for Chinese goods. Mark Abramson for The New York Times Trump is set to impose sweeping tariffs President Trump's threats to impose stiff tariffs on goods imported from Canada, Mexico and China are expected to become a reality today. Trump said yesterday that there was no chance for a last-minute deal to avert them, and company executives and foreign officials scrambled to prepare. The tariffs will add a 25 percent fee on all Mexican and Canadian exports coming across those borders and an additional 10 percent for Chinese goods. Canada was poised to retaliate, potentially setting off a trade war, and Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, said: "Whatever the decision is, we will also make our decisions." Trump has described the tariffs as an effort to pressure those countries to stop the flows of migrants and deadly drugs. But speaking yesterday, he appeared to change the terms, saying Canada and Mexico needed to relocate auto factories and other manufacturing to the U.S. Canada and Mexico are both deeply dependent on exports to the U.S. Effects: The announcement sent stock markets tumbling, with the S&P 500 falling 1.8 percent, its worst one-day drop so far this year. Automobiles: The tariffs are likely to raise prices for new cars and trucks. Nissan and Stellantis could be hit the hardest. Division: What's behind Trump's love-hate relationship with Canada, one of the largest trading partners of the U.S.? More on Trump Rather than boycott Trump's address to Congress today, some Democrats are inviting fired federal workers. Several landmark Supreme Court cases protect journalists' ability to question the powerful. A right-wing effort wants to overturn them. Trump declared English the official language of the U.S. What does that mean in a country whose people speak 350 languages? Trump administration health officials are downplaying a measles outbreak in Texas, experts say. Elon Musk's efficiency initiative erased $4 billion in additional savings that the group said it had made for U.S. taxpayers from its "wall of receipts." In a three-hour interview with Joe Rogan, Musk seemed to contradict comments made by Trump about popular safety net programs. Track Trump's actions since he took office. A makeshift tent camp last month in Jabaliya in the northern Gaza Strip. Saher Alghorra for The New York Times Israel and Hamas plan for a possible return to war As cease-fire discussions continue between Israel and Hamas, the two sides are preparing for those efforts to fail and for the conflict to resume. Hamas is collecting unexploded bombs to make improvised explosive devices, recruiting new members and replacing commanders, according to a member of Hamas's military wing. Israel has prepared extensively for a new, more intense campaign in Gaza, Israeli officials said. In the Gaza Strip, Palestinians are feeling the effects of Israel's halt on the entry of all goods and humanitarian assistance, as the prices of food and other essential goods climb. A tragic return: A man gave himself up as a hostage on Oct. 7, hoping to save his wife and daughters. After 500 days underground, he came home to learn that they had been killed. MORE TOP NEWS René Priebe/DPA, via Associated Press Germany: A man drove a car into a lunch-hour crowd in Mannheim, killing at least two people. The driver has been arrested. Pope: The Vatican said Pope Francis, 88, had two acute respiratory crises in the hospital yesterday. Mexico: The Supreme Court will hear a lawsuit in which Mexico is seeking $10 billion from U.S. gun makers, accusing them of fueling cartel violence. China: Prosecutors are embracing plea deals that lawyers and scholars fear are being used as shakedowns. Greenland: The Danish territory is drawing attention from the U.S. because of its rare earth minerals, but several factors are tempering hopes of a bonanza. A.I.: Anthropic, an artificial intelligence company, said that it had completed a new fund-raising deal that valued it at $61.5 billion. Tech: TSMC, the world's largest chip maker, plans to spend $100 billion in the U.S. over the next four years to expand production. Tesla: A backlash against the electric vehicle company has intensified as Elon Musk exerts greater political power. SPORTS NEWS Tennis: President Trump's confrontation with Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has created uncertainty for Ukrainian players. Rugby: Ilona Maher's rising star — she has 8.4 million followers across Instagram and TikTok — is lifting the whole sport with her. Soccer: San Diego FC's head coach condemned fans' homophobic chants during the team's inaugural home game on Saturday. Golf: Joe Highsmith triumphed at the Cognizant Classic and doubled his career earnings with his first career P.G.A. Tour win. MORNING READ Andrea Mantovani for The New York Times For over a decade, Barry Joule served as friend, drinking partner and helper to the artist Francis Bacon. Ten days before Bacon died, Joule says, he gave him a trove of papers and artworks. Some in the art world believe these works are genuine. Others, including Bacon's own estate, aren't so sure. Is Joule a keeper of Bacon's secrets? Or is he, at best, misguided — or, at worst, a fantasist and a trickster? Lives lived: Khalil Fong, a Hong Kong singer-songwriter who infused a soul and R&B sensibility into Chinese pop songs, died at 41. CONVERSATION STARTERS Undersea genius: Could the camouflaging abilities of cuttlefish be evidence of a higher level of cognition? Hidden history: Deep beneath a Dutch city lie vast subterranean spaces that have served as art canvases, air raid shelters and a strategic command center. Food under threat: Scientists are gaining new insights into how plankton supports life on Earth — just as climate change is changing everything. Fuzzy logic: Why do designers want consumers to wear fur (or a facsimile) this winter? ARTS AND IDEAS Philip Cheung for The New York Times Don't abandon the movies The writer-director Sean Baker was the biggest victor at the Academy Awards on Sunday night. For my colleague Manohla Dargis, the chief film critic at The New York Times, his success was gratifying: His movie "Anora," she writes in this appraisal, "is the kind of scrappy, low-budget, independent movie that has been making the Oscars more interesting for, well, decades." On accepting his best director award, Baker made a plea that seemed to aim at a culture where great movies get watched on phones. "This is my battle cry," he said. "Filmmakers, keep making films for the big screen." For more: Why Demi Moore's Oscar loss to Mikey Madison stings for some fans. Revisit the best and worst moments of the night. We chose our 21 most unforgettable looks from the red carpet. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Cook: This weeknight-friendly chicken satay is superb. Read: Two new nonfiction books find their inspiration in an end to a marriage. Train: Pain is a part of working out, but learning how to listen to it is a key skill. Travel: Kathmandu, the city of monks and artisans, has rarely been more appealing. 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. See you tomorrow. — Natasha P.S. David Leonhardt, the anchor of The Morning newsletter, is taking on a new role as editorial director for opinion. 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. 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