Overview
- Russia and the U.S. confirmed a constructive Lavrov–Rubio call on “possible concrete measures” for the Budapest meeting, with the Kremlin stressing serious preparatory work and no date set.
- Zelensky said he is ready to take part if invited, calling Budapest an imperfect venue, and reiterated that Ukraine rejects reported Russian terms to relinquish the Donbas.
- Reporting indicates Putin proposed Kyiv abandon control of Donetsk in exchange for Russian withdrawals from parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, a trade-off Ukraine and many European officials oppose.
- Accounts of the Trump–Zelensky White House meeting describe a tense exchange in which Trump pressed Kyiv to accept Russian conditions; Zelensky left without Tomahawks after proposing a drones-for-missiles deal.
- Zelensky said Ukraine needs 25 additional Patriot systems and floated funding via frozen Russian assets, as EU figures urged pressure on Moscow, insisted Ukraine be included in talks, and warned against changing borders by force.