Overview
- Russia welcomed language in the new U.S. National Security Strategy that points to dialogue and better relations, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling the formulations encouraging while noting implementation will be key.
- President Vladimir Putin held nearly five hours of talks at the Kremlin with U.S. envoys Stephen Witkoff and Jared Kushner; aide Yuri Ushakov said the meeting was useful and focused on U.S. peace proposals for Ukraine, but no compromise was reached.
- Bloomberg reported difficult EU–US–Ukraine consultations on the American plan, with European officials bracing for the possibility that President Donald Trump could step back from the process if his terms are not accepted.
- Russia’s Defense Ministry said it conducted a group strike using, among other weapons, Kinzhal missiles against Ukrainian energy and military-linked sites and claimed around 1,350 Ukrainian casualties, figures not independently verified.
- The ministry also reported intercepting 77 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 42 over Saratov region, where local alerts sounded and residents reported explosions, as authorities and independent outlets noted temporary airport suspensions across several cities.