NPR News: 03-02-2025 8PM EST

Summary

Summit in London: Europe's Crucial Role in Peace Talks Between Russia and Ukraine

In a significant development at a summit of 20 world leaders in London, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the pivotal role Europe must play in establishing a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine, while also highlighting the indispensable support of the United States. Jeanine Herbst reported:

“Europe has to do the heavy lifting to secure a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine, but that effort also needs the strong backing of the U.S.” (00:16).

Terry Schultz elaborated on the complexities of this initiative, noting that achieving peace will require substantial financial resources, sustained weapons transfers to Ukraine, and the potential deployment of European troops to monitor a ceasefire. However, the plan includes a critical contingency clause that mandates American assistance to ensure Russia adheres to the ceasefire terms. When questioned about former President Donald Trump's potential support, Starmer responded that he had communicated with Trump the previous night and would not proceed without assurance of U.S. backing (00:41 - 01:10).

GOP Divisions Over Ukrainian Leadership

Following a tense meeting between President Trump and President Zelenskyy at the White House, top Republicans have expressed mixed opinions regarding Zelenskyy's leadership of Ukraine. Jeanine Herbst highlighted the growing skepticism within the GOP:

House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana cast doubt on Zelenskyy's effectiveness, stating to NBC News:

“Either he needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude, or someone else needs to lead the country to do that” (01:27).

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina intensified the criticism by suggesting that Zelenskyy should either resign or implement significant changes in his leadership (01:34). In contrast, GOP Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma voiced opposition to calls for resignations, declaring:

“I'm not interested in calling on the resignation of other world leaders” (01:55).

Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont came to Zelenskyy's defense, asserting on NBC News:

“Zelensky is leading a country trying to defend democracy against an authoritarian dictator, Putin, who invaded his country” (02:11).

President Trump Implements New Tariffs to Boost American Lumber Production

In an aggressive move to bolster the American lumber industry, President Trump signed two executive orders aimed at increasing domestic lumber production and potentially imposing higher tariffs on imported lumber. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reported:

One order directs various agencies to explore methods to enhance lumber production within the United States. The second order tasks the Secretary of Commerce with investigating the feasibility of implementing tariffs on lumber imports. The White House justified these measures by aiming to reduce the cost of building housing, a sector significantly impacted by lumber prices.

Trump also signaled broader trade tensions by threatening to impose a 25% tariff on lumber imports from Canada and Mexico, citing their substantial share of the American lumber market—Canada accounts for around 40% of U.S. lumber imports. These tariffs could be implemented as early as March 4th, adding to a series of trade threats against various goods and countries (02:15 - 03:06).

U.S. Financial Markets and a Milestone in Space Exploration

The financial markets experienced a slight downturn as U.S. futures slipped into negative territory, with Dow futures decreasing by approximately one-tenth of a percent (03:06).

In a remarkable achievement for American space exploration, Firefly Aerospace, a Texas-based company, successfully landed its Blue Ghost lunar lander on the moon. NPR's Joe Hernandez reported that the mission, part of a NASA program that partners with private space companies, carried several scientific instruments, including a device for collecting lunar rock samples and an X-ray imager to study Earth's magnetic field. This successful touchdown marks a significant milestone, especially after several prior unsuccessful attempts by other private entities. The Blue Ghost's journey covered over 2.8 million miles in 45 days (03:06 - 03:30).

Weekend Box Office Highlights

The latest box office figures revealed that "Captain America: Brave New World" retained its position at the top spot with an estimated $15 million in ticket sales over the weekend, bringing its total gross to $163 million since its release. Despite its commercial success, the film has faced criticism from both critics and audiences for not delivering the anticipated Marvel cinematic reset.

In second place was "The Last Breath," a true-story-based adventure film that garnered $7 million. The movie depicts a routine deep-sea diving mission that turns disastrous when a young diver becomes stranded 300 feet below the surface.

Rounding out the top three was "The Monkey," which earned $6 million in ticket sales (04:11 - 04:55).

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Timestamp Reference

• 00:16: Introduction to the London summit and Keir Starmer's statements.
• 00:41 - 01:10: Terry Schultz's report on peace efforts and U.S. support.
• 01:27: Mike Johnson's comments on Zelenskyy.
• 01:34: Lindsey Graham's suggestion regarding Zelenskyy's leadership.
• 01:55: James Lankford's opposition to resignation calls.
• 02:11: Bernie Sanders defends Zelenskyy.
• 02:15 - 03:06: Trump's executive orders on lumber tariffs.
• 03:06: U.S. futures and stock market update.
• 03:06 - 03:30: Firefly Aerospace's lunar landing.
• 04:11 - 04:55: Weekend box office results.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. At a summit of 20 world leaders in London today, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Europe has to do the heavy lifting to secure a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine, but that the effort also needs the strong backing of the U.S. starmer says Britain, France and Ukraine have agreed to work on a ceasefire plan to present to the U.S. terry Schultz has more.

[Terry Schultz]

Now, this is going to require a lot more money, sustained funding, sustained weapons transfers to Ukraine, and eventually the Europeans say several countries are willing to put their own troops on the ground to monitor a ceasefire. But there's a big contingency clause here. This will require American help and backup to keep Russia on its side of a ceasefire line. Asked whether he thought Donald Trump would agree to this, Starmer said he'd spoken with Trump last night and would not be moving ahead if he wasn't confident of that.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Jerry Schultz reporting. Top Republicans are questioning President Zelensky's leadership of Ukraine following his heated meeting with President Trump at the White House last week. But not all of the GOP is on the same page. NPR's Luke Garrett has more.

[Bernie Sanders]

House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana threw his support of Zelensky into doubt on Sunday. He told NBC News either he needs.

[Jeanine Herbst]

To come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude, or someone else needs to lead the country to do that.

[Bernie Sanders]

On Friday, following the tense Trump Zelenskyy meeting, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina suggested Zelenskyy should resign or change. But on Sunday, GOP Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma told NBC News he disagrees.

[Joe Hernandez]

I'm not interested in calling on the.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Resignation of other world leaders.

[Bernie Sanders]

Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont defended Zelensky outright on NBC News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Zelensky is leading a country trying to defend democracy against an authoritarian dictator, Putin, who invaded his country.

[Bernie Sanders]

Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

President Trump signed two executive orders aimed at increasing American lumber production and possibly increasing tariffs on lumber imports. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports. It's one of a slew of tariffs the Trump administration is currently threatening.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

One order directs agencies to find ways to increase lumber production. Another directs the secretary of commerce to investigate possible lumber tariffs. The White House says the goal is to reduce the cost of building housing. Tariffs are taxes American businesses pay to import products from abroad. Trump has also threatened tariffs on an array of other goods and countries. Canada accounts for around 40% of American lumber imports, by far the largest of any country. Trump has also threatened to blanket 25% tariffs on Canada as well as Mexico, saying those could take effect as early as March 4th. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News, West Palm Beach, Florida.

[Jeanine Herbst]

U.S. futures contract have slipped into negative territory. Dow futures are down about 1/10 of a percent. This is NPR News. A Texas based company has landed a spacecraft on the moon in a new step for U.S. space exploration. As NPR's Joe Hernandez reports, the lunar lander carried a number of NASA science experiments on board.

[Joe Hernandez]

The Blue Ghost lunar lander by the American company Firefly Aerospace touched down on the moon early Sunday morning. The mission is part of a NASA program to contract with private space companies to deliver scientific instruments and other payloads to the moon. Included on the Blue Ghost lander are a device to collect rock samples from the lunar surface and an X ray imager to study Earth's magnetic field. The successful touchdown came after several attempts by other private companies to land on the moon in recent years. Blue Ghost's Landing capped a 45 day journey covering more than 2.8 million miles. Joe Hernandez, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

At the weekend box office, Captain America, Brave New World took the top spot once again with an estimated $15 million in ticket sales. The Anthony Mackie led film has made $163 million since its release, but it has been slammed by many critics and audiences for failing to bring the marvel reset some had hoped for. In second place, the last breath was just $7 million. The film, based on a true story adventure, is about a routine deep sea deep sea diving mission that goes terribly wrong when a young diver is stranded some 300ft below the surface. And in third place, the monkey with $6 million. I'm Jeanine Herbst and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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