Ukraine and Europe Set Negotiation Baseline at Current Front Line as Moscow Says Trump–Putin Summit Not Set

Overview

• Zelensky and leaders from the EU, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Denmark and Finland endorsed using the present front line as the starting point for talks.
• The statement reasserted that borders cannot be changed by force and pledged to keep Ukraine in the strongest possible position before, during and after any cease-fire.
• Trump says he aims to meet Putin in Budapest within two weeks to press for an end to the war, but the Kremlin says no date is set and that serious preparation is required.
• A planned Rubio–Lavrov meeting in Budapest was postponed, and Deputy Minister Sergey Ryabkov said it is premature to discuss a schedule.
• European capitals will coordinate this week through an EU summit in Brussels and a London meeting of the Coalition of Volunteers, reflecting concern that any U.S.–Russia deal must not come at Ukraine’s expense.