Overview
- Two days of U.S.-mediated Geneva talks ended without a political breakthrough, though delegations neared agreement on how a ceasefire would be implemented and monitored with American involvement.
- Zelensky said Ukrainian forces have retaken about 300 km² in the south in recent counter-attacks, a claim not independently verified by AFP.
- Cross-border strikes persisted: Russia reported downing 113 Ukrainian drones and a fire at a Pskov refinery, local officials reported hits in Belgorod, and a drone attack on Sevastopol killed one person.
- Kyiv is pushing for another negotiating round this month, and Zelensky wants any future ceasefire guaranteed by international forces deployed closer to the front.
- Allies plan further coordination, with a France–UK-led coalition videoconference next week and EU leaders signaling a desire to open accession talks with Ukraine as soon as possible; Ukraine also claims recent strikes destroyed a Russian S-300VM launcher and a Tor air-defense system.