Overview

• Viktor Orbán was the sole EU leader to refuse to join a 26-country declaration affirming Ukraine’s right to self-determine and condemning forced territorial changes.
• The EU statement emphasizes that meaningful negotiations require a weapons suspension or reduction in hostilities and direct involvement of the Ukrainian government.
• Orbán criticized the EU for being sidelined, called for a dedicated EU-Russia summit and asserted in a separate interview that Russia has already won the war.
• The Ukrainian General Staff reported recapturing the settlements of Stepne and Nowokostjantyniwka in the Sumy border region, underlining continued frontline engagement.
• EU leaders pledged to sustain military and financial aid for Ukraine and said they would uphold or intensify sanctions on Russia ahead of the Trump–Putin meeting in Alaska.