☕ Europe backs Ukraine after DC

Welcome to Monday.

The 97th Academy Awards have wrapped up in LA, with Anora taking out five awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Film Editing, while its star Mikey Madison was awarded Best Actress for her performance. Anora (a film made on a relatively tiny budget of $6 million) follows the story of a young sex worker who impulsively marries the son of a Russian Oligarch. The film’s director, Sean Baker, thanked the Academy for “celebrating a truly independent film.” Best Actor went to Adrian Brody for his performance in the Brutalist - it was the other big winner of the night, with awards for Cinematography and Original Score.

In today’s edition, we bring you an update on Ukraine, and the extradition of Mexican cartel bosses.

I’ve got 30 seconds

Some headlines from this morning:

Israel will stop all aid deliveries into Gaza after the first phase of a six week ceasefire ended without an agreement to continue peace into a Phase Two. Hamas has rejected a Trump administration suggestion for an extension of Phase One deal past Passover and Ramadan which would see further Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners released. Hamas said Israel is engaging in blackmail by restricting the aid trucks, 21,000 of which have entered Gaza. Israel has threatened “further consequences” if the remaining hostages are not released.

Former New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo will run for mayor of New York, ending four years in political exile after sexual harassment allegations resulted in his resignation in 2021. Cuomo’s pitch to the people of New York was that he would be able to “save” the city which he says is almost out of control and navigate a relationship with President Trump. Cuomo will be running against embattled current New York Mayor Eric Adams, currently fighting corruption allegations, and other candidates with little name recognition.

The value of five cryptocurrencies - Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana and Cardano - have increased after President Trump announced the coins would form part of a US government cryptocurrency strategic reserve. The announcement fulfils a campaign promise by the President to make the US the ‘crypto capital of the world’ and comes after the creation of a presidential working group at the start of his presidency who were tasked with investigating the creation of a digital assets reserve containing cryptocurrencies seized by law enforcement organizations.

Firefly - an American space start up - has become the second private company to land on the moon after a month and half journey in an increasingly intense space race dominated by private companies. The four legged vehicle, ‘Blue Ghost’, landed on the moon at a gentle two miles an hour, protecting the 10 payloads of scientific equipment carried by the spacecraft which will send data back over the 14 day research mission. The US and China are racing to put people on the moon later this decade.

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European leaders reaffirmed their support for Ukraine during a crisis summit in London over the weekend.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hastily arranged a meeting of European leaders, where he laid out a four-step proposal to continue supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia.

It followed a tense press conference between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the White House on Friday, ending in the Ukrainian leader leaving early without a deal to guarantee ongoing U.S. support.

Some context

Zelenskyy travelled to the White House late last week to sign a trade deal with the U.S.

Under the terms of the deal, U.S. humanitarian and military aid would continue in exchange for rare earth elements extracted from Ukraine.

Ukraine’s rare earths – such as titanium and graphite – are used in manufacturing products like smartphones and wind turbines.

Zelenskyy arrived at the White House Oval Office and spoke to media while seated next to Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

In response to reporter questions, Vance accused Zelenskyy of not showing willingness to diplomatically engage to bring about an end to the war with Russia. Zelenskyy pushed back against the claims.

It turned into a heated exchange, with Trump and Vance accusing Zelenskyy of not being “grateful” for U.S. support and Trump saying the Ukrainian leader was “gambling with World War Three”.

London meeting

Zelenskyy abruptly left the White House without any deal being signed.

He travelled to London, where he met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his official residence at Number 10 Downing Street. He also met with King Charles.

French President Emmanuel Macron, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Spain’s PM Pedro Sánchez were among more than a dozen leaders who flew to London for a crisis meeting attended by Zelenskyy.

After the meeting, Starmer announced that Europe’s leaders supported a four-part plan on bringing about an end to the war in Ukraine:

1. Continued military aid to Ukraine and Russian sanctions.

2. Ensuring Ukraine is involved in a “lasting peace” deal.

3. Building up Ukraine’s defences as part of a peace deal.

4. Developing a “coalition of the willing” to protect Ukraine.

Starmer said, “Europe must do the heavy lifting.”

What role will the US play?

Following the meeting, Starmer said that the peace plan would be “discussed” with the U.S.

In response to a journalist’s questions, Starmer said: “I do not accept that the U.S. is an unreliable ally.”

In the hours since the London meeting, Zelenskyy has said “from our side, we are ready to sign” the U.S. critical minerals deal.

It’s not clear whether the U.S. remains committed to the deal. Trump posted on Truth Social, saying Zelenskyy “can come back when he’s ready for peace.”

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Mexico has undertaken the largest extradition of its citizens in years with 29 cartel figures being sent to face prosecution in the US on Thursday as Mexico continues to try and navigate its relationship with the new administration. Let’s explain.

Who is being extradited?

Extradition is when one country hands over a person to another country for trial or punishment for a crime.

The 29 prisoners were all allegedly involved in moving drugs from Mexico to the US, including leaders or former leaders of large cartels. Some were older cartel leaders who had major involvement in trafficking cocaine and heroin decades ago and some are newer cartel members who have been instrumental in the flow of fentanyl into the US.

Among the higher profile prisoners was 72 year old Rafael Caro Quintero who was convicted in Mexico of torturing and killing an American Drug and Enforcement agent in 1985.

Antonio Oseguera Cervantes the brother of Mexico’s most wanted drug cartel leader and member of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel which oversees the trafficking of fentanyl into the US is among the newer generation of cartel members being turned over.

Why now?

Last week, President Trump announced that previously delayed 25% tariffs would be imposed on Mexican goods coming into America, affecting more than 80% of their exports. The tariffs have been imposed in retaliation for what President Trump sees as Mexico’s inability to control the cartels and the flow of immigrants and drugs across the US-Mexico border.

Mexico’s President Claudia Shienbaum announced the extradition deal days after the tariffs were announced, seen as part of her strategy to reach a deal with the US which would avoid the penalties.

The prosecution of cartel members who have harmed US agents has been important to all administrations. US authorities responding to the deal and extradition of Quintero said: "the message goes forth - we will never forget if you harm or kill one of our agents."

What’s next?

At least two of the extradited prisoners will face arraignment in a Brooklyn federal court on Friday.

US officials have said the deal shows “good faith” from the Mexican government.

Six of the 29 extradited could face the recently reimposed federal death penalty, which breaks from Mexican historic precedent of not extraditing citizens to jurisdictions with capital punishment.