Overview

• Ukraine has firmly stated that it will not accept any limitations on the size or readiness of its armed forces, calling it a red line in negotiations with Russia.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to demand military restrictions on Ukraine, a halt to NATO ambitions, and control over occupied Ukrainian territories.
• Fighting has intensified, with Ukraine warning of imminent Russian offensives targeting key regions, including Pokrovsk and eastern fronts near Kupiansk and Lyman.
• A deadly missile strike in Kryvyi Rih killed 20 people, including nine children, underscoring the ongoing civilian toll of the conflict.
• Critics allege that U.S.-led negotiations under the Trump administration are inadvertently enabling Russian aggression by failing to secure effective terms.