Overview

• President Trump has failed to secure direct negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, despite campaign promises to end the war swiftly.
• Putin rejected participation in Istanbul peace talks and dismissed Trump's claims of a ceasefire agreement following a two-hour phone call.
• The UK and EU have imposed new sanctions targeting Russia's shadow fleet and financial networks, but the U.S. has not matched these measures.
• A bipartisan, veto-proof sanctions bill in the U.S. Senate, co-sponsored by 80 senators, remains stalled, signaling legislative gridlock on tougher actions against Russia.
• Trump's consideration of withdrawing U.S. support for Ukraine has drawn criticism, with warnings that such a move could embolden Russia and undermine NATO's security framework.