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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst.

Ukrainian president, Philodomir Zelensky, today called for the creation of a European army.

He told the annual Munich Security Conference that the continent can no longer be sure of

U.S. protection.

Three years of full-scale war have proven that we already have the foundation for a United

European military force. And now, as we fight this war and lay the groundwork for peace

and security, we must build the armed forces of Europe.

It's not clear whether European leaders will agree. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Schultz,

also at the Munich conference, hit back at Americans for meddling in his country's election

after Vice President Vance scolded European leaders over

their approach to democracy, and he also met with the leader of a German far-right party.

Three Israeli hostages held by Hamas have been released.

The sixth group freed as part of a fragile ceasefire deal with Israel that nearly collapsed this week.

In exchange, Israel released

more than 350 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Empires Hidal-Al-Sholchi has more.

The three male civilian hostages released are 36-year-old dual U.S. Israeli citizen,

Sagi Dekhalchen, 29-year-old Russian-Israeli Alexander Trupinov, and 46-year-old

Argentinian-Israeli Yair Horn. The hostages were brought onto a stage where a slogan on a large

poster alluded to President Trump's plan to transfer Gaza's entire population to neighboring countries.

...