Overview

• Trump said he held another phone conversation with Putin and signaled uncertainty about a Putin–Zelensky meeting after the Kremlin denied plans for such a summit.
• U.S. Vice President J. D. Vance reported what he called substantial Russian concessions and suggested the war could end within six months, a claim publicly questioned by German officials and security experts.
• Visiting Kyiv, Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil committed roughly nine billion euros per year for Ukraine and said Germany is preparing options for future security guarantees.
• Klingbeil emphasized building a stronger Ukrainian army and expanding defense production in Ukraine while remaining skeptical that Putin is ready for serious peace talks.
• Fighting continued as Russia reported downing 43 Ukrainian drones overnight and Ukrainian authorities in Sumy described one person killed and several injured in fresh strikes, while U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg discussed prospective guarantees in Kyiv and Zelensky announced talks with U.S. representatives later this week.