Overview

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has stated he will only attend the Istanbul peace talks if Russian President Vladimir Putin is present, emphasizing the need for direct negotiations to achieve a ceasefire.
• The Kremlin has not confirmed whether Putin will attend the talks, scheduled for Thursday, leaving uncertainty over Russia's participation at the highest level.
• U.S. President Donald Trump has offered to join the talks while on a regional trip, and his administration is sending senior envoys to support the discussions.
• European leaders have threatened stronger sanctions against Russia if it rejects Ukraine's demand for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire or fails to engage meaningfully in the talks.
• Fighting continues on the eastern front, with Ukraine asserting that a ceasefire is essential before any substantive discussions on ending the war can proceed.