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Good morning from the Financial Times. Today is Tuesday, February 21,

and this is your FT News Briefing.

Today, as part of our week-long coverage of the war in Ukraine,

we'll look at how the conflict has reshaped Europe's diplomatic ties with Russia.

And there is not a single voice with the exception of perhaps hungry

saying that there should be outreach now to Putin.

And while the world focuses on Ukraine, Moscow is quietly building support in Africa.

It's just an easy way of destabilizing the west of making trouble.

It's easy to make new friends and to get votes at the UN.

I'm Mark Filipino and here's the news you need to start your day.

Consumer confidence in the Eurozone is on the up and up.

The European Commission says the latest flash estimate of its consumer confidence indicator

rose for the fifth consecutive month. It reflects optimism that the Eurozone may only suffer

a mild recession despite the energy crisis. This not so cold winter has also lessened fears of

energy shortages. And European wholesale gas prices have fallen to their lowest level since

before Russia invaded Ukraine. But the latest consumer confidence number still remains below

pre-pandemic levels. Moscow's plans to invade Ukraine weren't really a secret,

but it was still a shock when Russian troops actually crossed the border and began the war.

It shattered illusions, at least in Brussels, that Russian President Vladimir Putin is someone

that the European Union could work with. As for Europe's current diplomatic strategy towards Moscow,

...