Overview

• President Donald Trump told reporters the United States will not spend additional money for Ukraine, called Volodymyr Zelensky “the biggest seller,” and said he spoke again with Vladimir Putin, who he claims does not want to meet the Ukrainian leader.
• German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil made an unannounced visit to Kyiv and pledged roughly €9 billion per year in civilian and military aid through 2027, saying Ukraine can continue to count on Germany.
• U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held coordinated calls with European and Ukrainian counterparts, with participants agreeing to continue joint diplomatic efforts toward a durable negotiated settlement.
• Reuters reported that U.S. and Russian officials discussed potential energy agreements on the margins of peace talks as incentives to encourage Kremlin concessions and possible easing of some sanctions.
• France summoned U.S. ambassador Charles Kushner over comments criticizing President Emmanuel Macron’s response to antisemitism, and the U.S. State Department publicly backed the ambassador’s remarks.