MNI POLITICAL RISK - Zelenskyy's Make Or Break Meeting w/Trump

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Executive summary:

• President Donald Trump endorsed a full-year stopgap spending bill to avert a government shutdown on March 15. Senate Democrats are backing away from suggestions they could use a shutdown as leverage to extract concessions from the GOP.
• Trump injected more uncertainty into his trade plans, reiterating that a 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada will indeed go into effect on March 4, after hinting on Wednesday implementation could be delayed by another month.
• Trump also announced an additional 10% tariff would be applied to Chinese imports on Tuesday and his "reciprocal" tariffs remain on track for implementation on April 2.
• A string of European leaders rejected Trump’s comments disparaging the bloc, pledging to use its ‘trade bazooka’ if required.
• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer departed Washington without a commitment from Trump on Ukraine but with a promise to work towards a trade deal, spiking optimism in London that the UK could avoid tariffs.
• Trump softened his tone towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of a potentially make-or-break bilateral meeting at the White House.
• Russian and US officials promised to continue diplomatic discussions following “substantive and businesslike” talks in Istanbul.
• Trump's hardline rhetoric towards Canada has triggered a polling recovery from outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party.
• Talks are underway in Cairo on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal.
• Poll of the Day: Only half of Republicans believe tariffs would be an economic boon. 

Please find the full article attached below: US DAILY BRIEF