Overview
- France’s president closed a three‑day visit to China urging Beijing to help secure at least a ceasefire and to keep military and economic support flowing to Kyiv, with Ukrainian purchases from France including Rafale jets, air defenses and drones announced.
- Xi Jinping said China backs peace efforts but rejected any blame for the war and offered no concrete commitment to pressure Moscow.
- A leaked Der Spiegel account of a call with European leaders reported private warnings that a U.S. plan could press Ukraine into territorial concessions without clear security guarantees, a characterization the Élysée disputed.
- U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Russian officials in Moscow on a Trump‑led initiative, with both sides acknowledging disagreements and no breakthrough.
- Vladimir Putin, during a visit to India, warned Ukraine must withdraw from the Donbas or Russia will take it by force as Moscow and New Delhi advanced economic ties, revived free‑trade talks and expanded local‑currency trade reportedly to 96%.