Overview

• The U.S.-brokered agreements to halt Black Sea and energy infrastructure attacks remain tenuous, with continued violations reported by both Russia and Ukraine.
• Russia has tied its adherence to the ceasefire to the lifting of sanctions, including access to the SWIFT payment system, a condition firmly rejected by European leaders.
• Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron, accuse Russia of manipulating agreements and continuing hostilities, casting doubt on Moscow's intentions.
• France announced a €2 billion military aid package for Ukraine, as European nations discuss forming a 'coalition of the willing' to provide security guarantees and potentially deploy peacekeeping forces.
• Drone and missile strikes from both sides have persisted, with recent Russian attacks injuring over 20 people in Ukraine and Kyiv denying accusations of targeting Russian energy infrastructure.