Your World Tonight - Ukraine marks three years since invasion, a warning from Germany’s chancellor, French language debate for Liberals, and more

Episode Date: February 24, 2025

It’s been three years since Russia invaded Ukraine. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Kyiv, with about a dozen European leaders, to show support for Ukraine. One leader who is not there – France’s Emmanuel Macron, who is in Washington, trying to represent Europe’s interests. But he has an uphill climb… the U.S. today voted against a United Nations resolution condemning Russia’s invasion. U.S. President Donald Trump does say Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be in Washington soon to sign a critical minerals deal. Trump sees that as a crucial part of his plan to end the conflict.The man who is presumed to be Germany’s next chancellor says Europe needs to be more united, saying it’s “five minutes to midnight”, because of shifting geopolitics, including less support from the U.S. Friedrich Merz’s party won the most seats in yesterday’s election. The conservative centrist party will need a governing partner though. And it is not expected to turn to the party that won the second-most seats… the hard right AFD.Contenders to be Canada’s next Prime Minister are in Montreal for the first debate of the campaign. The French language debate will be a crucial testing ground for the four candidates who are left.Plus: the Pope's health, ammunition costs, funding of climate education and more.

1942, Europe. Soldiers find a boy surviving alone in the woods. They make him a member of Hitler's army. But what no one would know for decades, he was Jewish. Could a story so unbelievable be true? I'm Dan Goldberg. I'm from CBC's Personally, Toy Soldier. Available now wherever you get your podcasts. This is a CBC Podcast. We must do everything in our power to enable Ukraine to secure a just and lasting peace, a peace that cannot be achieved without Ukrainians at the table. Looking for a way out of a three-year-old war in a new world order. As Ukraine marks another grim anniversary, the strongest push for peace is emerging from the new relationship between Russia and the United States, a realignment that has Europe and Canada planning their

own next steps for Ukraine and not ruling out boots on the ground. Welcome to Your World Tonight. I'm Susan Bonner. It is Monday, February 24th, coming up on 6pm Eastern, also on the podcast. I think it's time for a new generation of leadership. I think it's time for new ideas and I think it's time for some new energy. It is a big night in the race to replace Justin Trudeau, the first of two debates in the Liberal leadership contest.

Four candidates squaring off in French with two weeks to go until the party picks the person who will lead the liberals into the next election. It was exactly three years ago when Russian troops first entered Ukraine, starting a long and brutal conflict. Today it was European leaders, along with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, landing in the country, part of a renewed effort to end the war. But there's a competing push for peace in Ukraine coming from the US and Russia. Chris Brown is in Kiev tonight with more on the discussions and the challenges ahead.

What a real pleasure it is to be welcomed by you once again on this one. With the scent of US betrayal in the air, Justin Trudeau came to Kiev in a show of solidarity with Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky, and his host gave him a warm welcome. We love Canadians and respect you. With 13 other heads of state around the table with him, Trudeau was far from alone, but unmistakably missing in action on this third anniversary

of Russia's invasion of Ukraine was any senior representative of Donald Trump's administration, a fact Trudeau appeared to underscore in his opening remarks. Canada has been a steadfast, unshakable partner to Ukraine since the beginning,

and that will never, ever change. As chair of the G7, Trudeau decided to use his trip to Kiev to hold a virtual meeting of the leaders, which included Trump and Zelensky as a guest. Afterward, Zelensky's comments reflected the widespread uncertainty across Europe over Trump's intentions.

President Trump, we would really like to hear from you because all our people, all our families are very worried, will there be support from America? Trump has called Zelensky a dictator, blamed Ukraine for starting the war and initiated talks directly with Russia, seemingly cutting out both Europe and Ukraine. His claims that Vladimir Putin wants peace

were openly scoffed at, including by the head of the EU, Ursula von der Leyen. Putin is trying harder than ever to win the war on the ground. His goal remains Ukraine's capitulation. Finland's Alexander Stub emphasized the need for a made-in-Europe proposal

to end the war to counter Trump's. We need to get our act together. For Canada's part, Trudeau announced it's sending Ukraine 25 more light-armoured vehicles, and using seized Russian assets as collateral, Canada will send the first installment of an eventual $5 billion. Yes, it's absolutely possible. Trudeau also opened up the possibility that Canada could have boots on the ground in the country as part of a post-war security guarantee.

Canada stands at the ready to work with our partners around the world to provide Ukraine the security it needs for the peace to last. Beyond the gathering, a few kilometres away on Kiev's frozen Dnieper River, where dozens of fishermen had lines and holes through the ice, we found Ukrainians reluctantly coming to the same conclusion as the European leaders, that the war against Russia may have to be fought without US help. A lot depends on how Europe will act now, said Vladislav. Will it stop looking to America and start making its own rational decisions?

While not at the gathering, comments made by Germany's incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz appeared to reinforce much the same theme. That Europe must consider a world without US military support. A shift that's only beginning to be thought through but has unmistakable urgency. Chris Brown, CBC News, Kyiv. The dramatic shifts were evident at the UN today where the US voted with Russia, North Korea and Iran and 14 other countries against a resolution calling for Russia's withdrawal

from Ukraine. Later at the White House, Donald Trump met with the French president, who insisted that ending the conflict must not mean surrender for Ukraine. But as Paul Hunter reports, Trump argues it may not be that simple. We're trying to get the war ended with Russia and Ukraine. After a virtual meeting with G7 leaders and with French President Emmanuel Macron at his side in the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump underlined his view that an end to Russia's

war in Ukraine may soon be at hand. It looks like we're getting very close. Close to a deal with Ukraine, giving the US access to Ukraine's critical minerals, seen as key for continued U.S. support for Ukraine. As Trump describes it, a means for Ukrainian payback for the billions in wartime aid the U.S. has handed over. I think once we settle, there's going to be no more war in Ukraine, and you're not going to have a, it's not going to be a very big problem. But what might Russia get for ending its assault?

One question to Trump was whether Ukraine will, as it's always demanded, ever get back land Russia's taken since its full-scale assault on Ukraine began three years ago. Trump hinted no. That's not an easy thing to do, is it? Right? It's not an easy, you know, ask him whether or not you can take back the land that they lost and I say that Yeah, perhaps some of it. Yeah, I hope so, but that's not an easy thing to do

Trump did say he's spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin who told him he'd be good with European troops in Ukraine as peacekeepers. For his part, Macron said peace must not mean surrender for Ukraine, but noted a deal for Ukrainian minerals gives the U.S. an uncertainty for President Putin. I think the strength of American re-engagement, he said, is a form of uncertainty for Putin. This would allow for a truce, then a peace deal, then reconstruction, with security guarantees. Though it's important to note the U.S. has not agreed to security guarantees. Trump's comments, wide-ranging, were not without a worst-case scenario. If things don't go right, if the war as it is continues, as the U.S. president put it,

It could really lead to a very big war, World War III, and we're not going to let that happen either. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, who Trump has called a dictator, may come to Washington on all of this as early as this week. Paul Hunter, CBC News, Washington. The U.S. position on Ukraine and Russia prompted an urgent warning today from the winner of Germany's national election. The man who is expected to be the country's next chancellor is describing this moment for Europe as five minutes to midnight. And he says the continent must unite immediately. Sarah Levitt explains. Friedrich Merz arrived to applause this morning,

the day after his centrist conservative party won Germany's national election. But the Christian Democrats fell short of the 30% necessary to form a government. Merz says the work to do that has just begun. Together with the 120 seats won by the center-left social democrats, he says, we will form a coalition and a government. The SDP, led by Olaf Scholz, led from 2021 until now. But that coalition isn't a sure thing, only agreeing on the need to support Ukraine and opposed on many of Germany's most important internal issues.

And that uncertain coalition will have fierce opposition. The AfD has had a historic success, says Alice Weidel, the leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany party. It had reason to celebrate, placing second with a record 20.8 percent vote, the highest percentage for an extreme right party since the Nazis and World War II. The election results show a fractured country at a time of great uncertainty both domestically and internationally.

Toppe Meinmert says is foreign and security policy, pointing specifically to Germany's relationship with the United States. He's spoken specifically about strengthening trade and defenses in Europe. So that step by step we can really achieve independence from the USA, he says. An entirely different stance than that of the AFD's vital. Of the US, she says she wants Germany... To be a very good partner and to have serious and proper conversation with our US-American partner.

The leader says she missed a congratulatory phone call overnight from Elon Musk. For us, very good international relationships are a precondition for a good international dialogue. All this as the country deals with domestic insecurity, says a conservative supporter. Migration, then economics, but also internationally, we have to figure out this situation with Ukraine. It's going to be kind of a challenge to keep this coalition together. Stefan Marshall is a political scientist with the University of Dusseldorf. If this government is not able to address the issues which are at stake and which are mobilizing

people to go and vote for the AfD, which is especially the migration issue, then we will see further rise of this party. All that risking the future of a government already starting off on unsure footing. Sarah Levitt, CBC News, Montreal. Coming up on the podcast, Face à Face or Face to Face, the first liberal leadership debate tonight in Montreal in French. Catholics around the world pray for the ailing Pope. We have an update. Plus, when environmental studies in Canadian schools become controversial. High stakes, a tight timeline, and plenty of political tension.

The Liberal leadership race heats up tonight in Montreal with the first of two debates, this one in French, with party members getting set to choose who they want to replace Justin Trudeau as leader and Prime Minister. Tom Perry reports. I started working on the farm when I was young, like 12 actually, not unusual, lots of farm kids do. They've been making their pitch to Liberal supporters and voters at large. Candidates for the Liberal leadership including Christia Freeland, who in recent days released a video highlighting her Alberta roots. And Mark Carney, former Governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, who's been underlining his background in the world of finance.

Right now the government is spending more than it needs to keep the lights on. of Canada and Bank of England, who's been underlining his background in the world of finance. Right now, the government is spending more than it needs to keep the lights on, and it's not making enough of the big investments that pay off in the future. They'll face off, in French tonight, against the two other candidates in this race. Former Liberal cabinet minister and government house leader, Carina Gould. I think it's time for a new generation of leadership. I think it's time for new ideas, and I think it's time for a new generation of leadership. I think it's time for new ideas and I think it's time for some new energy. And Frank Baylis, a wealthy businessman and former Quebec Liberal MP. I stepped away

and now I'm stepping back in because I think that there's a need for someone like me that can have a positive impact. This first debate will cover four main issues. First up, Canada's place in the world, with Canada-U.S. relations and relations with U.S. President Donald Trump expected to dominate. How to build a strong economy and create jobs. How to support Canadians with housing, health care and affordability. And how to tackle the climate crisis and energy security. All the candidates have been preparing to make their arguments in what is their second language. And while there will be four

would-be replacements for Justin Trudeau on stage, there were supposed to be five. Federal liberals last week disqualified former Liberal MP Ruby Dalla, alleging her campaign had repeatedly violated party fundraising rules. Dalla has since released a video vowing to fight that decision. Please do not disqualify me. It will not send the right message for our party to immigrants and for young people and women in our country.

This will be the first of two debates with an English language matchup set for tomorrow. A chance for Liberals to size up the candidates and decide who should lead their party into the next election. A chance for Canadians as well to get a sneak peek at a few of the possible options they'll be offered when they go to the polls. Tom Perry, CBC News, Ottawa. As Tom mentioned one of the challenges for whoever wins will be the Canada-US relationship, one of the challenges for whoever wins will be the Canada-U.S. relationship and one of the major issues, tariffs, which are currently scheduled to start next week.

They are delayed one month, but Donald Trump today suggested that won't happen again. The tariffs are going forward on time, on schedule. This is an abuse that took place for many, many years. And I'm not even blaming the other countries that did this. I blame our leadership for allowing it to happen. I mean, you know, who can blame them if they made these great deals with the United States, took advantage of the United States on manufacturing, on just about everything, every aspect that you can imagine they took advantage of.

I look at some of these agreements, I'd read them at night and I'd say, who would ever sign a thing like this? Trump has threatened to put a 25% tariff on most Canadian goods starting March 4th. Prayers for Pope Francis tonight at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, where the Catholic Church is on high alert. This is the Pope's 11th night in hospital. The CBC's Briar Stewart is there. Briar, what do we know about the Pope's health? Well, Susan, the Vatican has been giving twice-daily updates on the Pope's health, and the latest message tonight did seem more positive,

even though the 88-year-old remains in critical condition. Officials say Pope Francis has shown a slight improvement. He didn't experience what they're calling any asthma-like respiratory crises today. While he remains on oxygen, doctors have been able to slightly reduce the rate of flow, and they say some of his laboratory tests have shown signs of improvement. While he is experiencing mild kidney failure, officials say at this point it's not a cause for concern. That being said, they say his condition is complex and it remains severe. This is the longest stay the Pope has ever

had in the hospital and he is prone to lung infections and it's very significant that for the second Sunday in a row he's been unable to deliver the public prayer. But even from his hospital room, Vatican officials say the Pope is continuing to work today, and he called the Roman Catholic parish in Gaza. And how are Catholics responding to this news? Well, Susan, this evening in St. Peter's Square, they held what officials say will become a nightly prayer service for the Pope's recovery. It started about nine o'clock tonight, before then we saw a few thousand people kind

of file in and gather to recite the rosary. And as I was standing here, you know, you could take a look at the crowd and there were families, some with young children and other members of the clergy, including young people who were basically training to be priests. And I talked with a few of them as they were led into the prayer service. We are worried. We are worried because this time he could not make it. We are worried at the same time we are hopeful.

It's important to be here tonight and share that moment of prayer with one another, especially in support to Pope Francis. Askey famously said, he is the shepherd who smells like the sheep. So in that description there, what that young priest is saying is that he sees Pope Francis as a man of the people. And really, when you talk to people about the Pope, that is how he's often described. He's also described as being relatively progressive. Pope Francis has talked several times about the need to confront climate change. He's fiercely advocated for migrants and refugees.

Early on after being selected as pope, he washed the feet of prisoners, and that made a lot of headlines. And so did the fact that when he was asked about gay members of the church back in 2013, he replied to a reporter's question saying who was he to judge? And at the time that was really seen as a progressive stance from a member of the Catholic clergy. And since the pope has been in hospital he has come out and he has thanked the public for all of their prayers and support, particularly the letters and drawings that he's received from young children.

Briar, thank you. You're welcome. The CBC's Briar Stewart in Vatican City. This is Your World Tonight from CBC News. If you want to make sure you stay up to date and never miss one of our episodes, follow us on Spotify, Apple, wherever you get your podcasts. Just find the follow button and lock us in. Higher prices aren't just a problem for your grocery bill.

Hunters and sports shooters across Canada are also getting less bang for their buck these days. The price of ammunition has skyrocketed in recent years and not just because of inflation. As Aaron Collins tells us, the war in Ukraine is partly to blame. Every squeeze of the trigger at this gun range, pricey and getting pricier every day. Like everything else, it's going up and oftentimes the reasons are complicated and confusing. James Baczynski is the president of the Calgary Shooting Centre, hosting gun enthusiasts for nearly 15 years.

Baczynski's noticed the price of ammunition has shone through the roof. On ammunition, we're up probably almost in double in price since about five years ago. Part of the problem is the cost of the components. In particular, right now there's a bit of a worldwide shortage of nitrocellulose, which is used to make the powder. It's a trend being noticed nationwide. It's gotten way more expensive to shoot in Canada. Wes Winkle is the head of the Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association.

Winkel says one of the biggest reasons for the rising cost of ammo is less demand here in Canada. He says gun laws are seeing more shooters holster their weapons permanently. One of the most important things domestically is that we've had a large decrease in consumption of target ammunition because a lot of the firearms that we use for target shooting have been prohibited." Overseas conflicts are also contributing to rising ammunition prices here at home. Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have increased the demand for bullets. Canada's own stockpile of ammunition has been depleted after donating weapons to Ukraine in recent years.

And restocking isn't easy, since about 80% of the ammunition sold in Canada is imported from the U.S. FH Munitions is a Calgary-based ammunition manufacturer providing high quality Canadian ammunition to Canadian consumers. Donglin Xi is the owner of FH Munitions. He says getting his Calgary-based ammunition manufacturing business up and running wasn't easy. It's actually pretty hard to start an ammunition manufacturer that takes a lot of effort into

it. But I think our company can definitely fill the gap by providing a local manufacturer alternative to the imported ammunition. For its part, Ottawa committed nearly $10 billion to boost ammo production here in Canada over the next two decades in April. In a statement, the Department of National Defense said work is still ongoing to sign contracts with industry partners to ramp up production. Erin Collins, CBC News, Calgary. They are funding education about climate change.

But some environmental advocates say oil and gas companies could be polluting the minds of young Canadians. A new report says the companies are paying for school materials and lessons, and some of it is misleading. Deanna Sumanac-Johnson reports. They show alignments to the curriculum and when you look at it, it has the Government of Alberta's logo on it. Tailena Pell, recently retired teacher in Alberta, says that she once jumped at the opportunity to use materials on climate change provided by a third-party organization used by many other schools. You're a new green teacher and you're scrambling to make your lesson plans.

I felt that these materials were amazing. But then, Appel says she noticed something she found suspect. The materials focused on, say, individual actions, like wearing a sweater to stay warm. I noticed a lack of any kind of collective action or systemic change. A new report by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment alleges that oil and gas industries are subtly influencing how kids are taught about climate change in Canada, in part by providing funding to environmental organizations that give presentations, materials and field trips to schools. And Kiri is the report's co-author.

You will see occasionally references to the burning of coal, oil and gas as a driver of climate change, but the role of the industry is downplayed. In recent years, many oil and gas industries have started initiatives to mitigate their impacts on the environment or reduce their carbon footprint. But the report's co-authors say some of these initiatives are part of so-called greenwashing. Some of these companies fund tree planting initiatives that children do.

I think some people look at this and say, how's this a bad thing? Tree planting is wonderful, but we also know that this industry driving the climate crisis is having a devastating impact on forest globally. We reached out to a number of companies who fund educational resources. They have not responded.

Inside Education is a major organization providing environment and climate education to schools in Alberta. They said in a statement, our educational approach is centered around fostering critical thinking, not promoting a specific agenda. The report's authors are calling on all levels of government

to get involved in funding and providing high-quality climate education for students whose adult lives will be impacted by climate change. Deanna Sumanac-Johnson, CBC News, Toronto. The first time ever I saw your face Her voice was tender yet bold and her gentle hits made her one of the most popular artists of the 1970s. The American singer and pianist Roberta Flack has died. A statement from Flack's publicist says she died in Manhattan earlier today after suffering a cardiac arrest. She was 88. Strolling in the past, watching winter turn to spring.

Flack was a classically trained pianist, a musical prodigy who enrolled at Howard University at 15 and graduated before she turned 20. But success came slowly. For years, Flack worked as a school teacher in Washington, DC, playing nightclubs until she got noticed. She blended soul, R&B, and folk music with lyrics that didn't shy away from social commentary and struggles in the black community during the civil rights era. But it

was Flack's ballads, brooding, slow, and intimate, that became her biggest breakthroughs. Strumming my pain with his fingers, singing my life with his words, killing me softly with his song, killing me softly with his song. The number one hit, Killing Me Softly with His Song, it won the Grammy for Best Record in 1974 and Flack became the first artist ever to win that award two years in a row. The song was introduced to a new generation when a version by the hip hop group, the Fugees, topped charts around the world in 1996. Health problems hindered Flack's ability to perform later in life, but she continued to devote herself to music and education

through the Roberta Flack School of Music in New York City. Thanks for joining us. This has been Your World Tonight for Monday, February 24th. I'm Susan Bonner. Talk to you again. Killing me softly with this song, Killing me softly with this song.