Overview

• Ukrainian President Volodímir Zelenski reiterated his refusal to legally recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea, despite U.S. pressure to accept territorial losses.
• Donald Trump and Zelenski met briefly in Rome, where Trump emphasized the urgency of finalizing a peace agreement but faced resistance from Kyiv on key points.
• Russia has expressed willingness to engage in direct peace talks with Ukraine, according to Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov, though major gaps remain between both sides' demands.
• Ukraine and EU negotiators proposed conditional territorial discussions, contingent on an unconditional ceasefire, contrasting with the U.S. plan recognizing Russian territorial control.
• General Valeri Guerásimov announced that Russian forces, supported by North Korean troops, claimed victory in Kursk, a development Kyiv disputes as propaganda.