Overview
- The White House says no meeting is planned in the near term and a Rubio–Lavrov pre-talk has been shelved, with President Trump saying he will not hold a “wasted” meeting.
- Reuters reports Russia sent a non-paper rejecting a freeze at current lines and reiterating maximal demands, including full control of Donetsk and limits on any NATO presence tied to security guarantees for Ukraine.
- Kremlin officials insist preparations continue despite Washington’s stance, as Dmitry Peskov and Sergei Ryabkov keep the door open and Hungary signals it still stands ready to host.
- EU leaders reaffirm support for Ukraine, frame the current front only as a starting point for talks, and move on using frozen Russian assets and new sanctions while defense planning advances.
- Russian strikes continue to hit Ukrainian cities with civilian casualties reported in Kyiv and Kharkiv, and Volodymyr Zelensky signals openness to using the current line as a negotiation basis but doubts Putin would agree, as the U.S. withholds a Tomahawk commitment.