Overview

• Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky held a brief but reportedly productive meeting on April 26 at the Vatican during the funeral of Pope Francis, marking a significant diplomatic exchange.
• Trump claimed on Truth Social that Russia and Ukraine are 'very close to an agreement,' though details of the proposed accord remain undisclosed.
• Vladimir Putin expressed willingness to negotiate 'without preconditions,' but continued Russian drone strikes and maximalist demands cast doubt on Moscow's intentions.
• Ukraine firmly rejected any territorial concessions, with Zelensky reiterating that Crimea and other occupied regions remain Ukrainian territory.
• Russia's claim to have fully recaptured the Kursk region was denied by Kyiv, which described the announcement as propaganda, highlighting ongoing battlefield disputes.