Overview

• Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed placing Ukraine under temporary UN administration to conduct elections, a move widely criticized as a Kremlin strategy to install a pro-Russian government.
• Ukraine and its allies, including the United States, have firmly rejected the proposal, emphasizing Ukraine's sovereignty and the legitimacy of its current government under wartime provisions.
• European leaders, led by France and the UK, discussed deploying 'reassurance forces' to enforce a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, but divisions and lack of U.S. support hinder progress.
• Both Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of violating an agreement to avoid targeting energy infrastructure, further complicating trust in ongoing negotiations.
• The U.S. continues to push for a mineral resources agreement with Ukraine, drawing criticism from Ukrainian officials over perceived shifts in U.S. policy and leniency toward Russian narratives.