Overview

• Zelenskyy arrived at the White House with top European leaders to secure Ukraine’s role in shaping any peace settlement.
• Trump’s Alaska summit pivot abandoned a ceasefire prerequisite, floated ceding Donbas in exchange for frozen front lines, ruled out NATO membership, and dismissed any return of Crimea.
• US envoys have unveiled a proposal for 'Article 5-like' defense guarantees directly from the United States and coalition partners to deter future Russian aggression.
• The Ukrainian constitution bars any land concessions, prompting Kyiv to demand negotiations start along existing front lines rather than on terms preordained by Moscow.
• Russia holds roughly 20 percent of Ukrainian territory, including most of Donbas, while Ukrainian forces retain fortified pockets that limit Kyiv’s leverage.