Overview
- President Volodymyr Zelenskiy rejected the charge, saying Ukraine is not an obstacle to peace and citing ongoing Russian missile and drone attacks as evidence Moscow is not seeking agreements.
- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk countered that Russia rejected a U.S. plan and called for increased pressure on Moscow, reflecting broader European skepticism of the Kremlin's intentions.
- Negotiations have centered on security guarantees and contested territorial terms, with U.S. negotiators pressing Ukraine on Donbas and floating a free economic zone concept that Kyiv says violates its constitution.
- Bloomberg reported that envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner plan a return visit to Moscow to present a 20‑point draft, though U.S. officials say no meeting is scheduled and the Kremlin says it would welcome them once a date is set.
- Russian officials signaled openness to further contacts, with Sergey Lavrov inviting a briefing on recent European meetings and Vladimir Putin stressing Russia's own demand for security guarantees as strikes continue to hit Ukrainian infrastructure.