Overview
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed delivery of a revised 20-point framework to Washington, saying any territorial concessions must be approved by Ukrainians through elections or a referendum.
- Ukrainian officials say U.S. negotiators floated a Donbas “free economic zone” that would require a Ukrainian pullback, a proposal Kyiv resists without clear governance and binding security guarantees.
- European Union governments agreed to keep roughly €210 billion in Russian sovereign assets frozen indefinitely, removing the risk of semiannual vetoes and paving the way to use proceeds to aid Ukraine.
- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned Europe faces a direct threat from Russia and urged allies to rapidly expand defense spending and industrial output.
- Ukraine reported gains around Kupiansk as Zelenskyy visited the area, while Kyiv’s drones hit Lukoil’s Caspian oil rigs and a Yaroslavl refinery, and the White House said President Trump may send a representative to weekend talks only if a deal appears within reach.