Overview

• President Trump warned of severe economic measures if Russia does not move toward a peace process and dismissed Kremlin attacks on Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s legitimacy as posturing.
• Special envoy Steve Witkoff said he will meet Ukrainian representatives in New York this week and noted ongoing daily contacts with Russia, adding his view that any final deal would likely need Trump at the table.
• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said no date is set for new talks, cited other priorities, and reiterated opposition to any NATO-country troop presence in Ukraine, saying settlement details should not be aired publicly.
• Russian officials continue to press for control of the Donbas while Ukraine rejects ceding territory and points to constitutional limits, as Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov again questioned who could sign a deal on Kyiv’s side.
• Zelenskyy said his aides will meet Trump’s team in New York on Friday and announced Olha Stefanishyna as the next ambassador to Washington, even as fighting continues and Ukrainian officials court support in the Middle East and Europe.