Overview
- After meetings in London with Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz, Ukraine prepared a roughly 20-point counterproposal centered on sovereignty and long-term security commitments, with European leaders signaling firm backing.
- President Trump told Politico that Russia has the “upper hand,” urged Zelenskyy to “start accepting things,” pressed for elections despite martial law, and criticized Europe’s role, while the UK publicly rejected his portrayal of European inaction.
- Leaked U.S.-drafted documents have included ceding parts of the Donbas in exchange for security promises, a tradeoff Kyiv and most European officials have denounced as unacceptable.
- Zelenskyy met Pope Leo XIV near Rome, where the Vatican called for dialogue that produces a just and lasting peace, with additional talks expected with Italian leaders.
- Active combat continues as Ukraine reported Russia launched 110 drones overnight, with 24 hitting targets and causing blackouts, and Russia claimed to have downed 121 Ukrainian drones over multiple regions.