HIGHLIGHTS-The Trump presidency on Feb. 15 at 8:40 A.M. EST/1340 GMT

Highlights of the day for U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Wednesday:

RUSSIA

Trump dismisses the idea of any "Russian connection" in a tweet after a New York Times report that said members of his presidential campaign had contacts with Russian intelligence officials.

The Kremlin says U.S. media reports about Russian intelligence connections to Trump's presidential campaign are groundless.

Russia says it will not hand back Crimea to Ukraine or discuss the matter with foreign partners after the White House says Trump expects the annexed Black Sea peninsula to be returned.

NETANYAHU MEETING

Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks that could shape Middle East policy as Palestinians warn the White House not to abandon their goal of an independent state.

NATO

Nervous European allies express confidence in U.S. engagement with NATO as they prepared to hear from Trump's defense chief at talks in Brussels on Wednesday.

OBAMACARE

Trump's vow to roll back government regulations at least 75 percent is causing anxiety for some pharmaceutical executives that a less robust Food and Drug Administration would make it harder to secure insurance coverage for pricey new medicines.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)