✓ verbatim from the press ? no verbatim passage
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a direct meeting with Vladimir Putin on Thursday (4) to negotiate an end to the war, suggesting talks occur in a neutral country like Switzerland, Turkey, or Arab nations. In an open letter, Zelensky offered a "total ceasefire" during negotiations and stated that "the choice is now yours, enough war." ✓
Press quotes (1)
"He said the talks could be hosted by a neutral third country, ruling out both Moscow and Kyiv as venues and suggested Switzerland, Turkey or Arab states as possible hosts for negotiations."
The Kremlin responded quickly, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating that "Zelensky can come to Moscow at any time," according to Russian state media. Putin, at a press conference in St. Petersburg, said he was "certainly prepared and willing to reach an agreement with Ukraine," but maintained territorial control demands over the Donbass region. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"O Kremlin confirmou ter recebido a carta e que Putin seria informado sobre ela."
The Russian president stated that "one thing does not exclude the other" — referring to complete control of Donbass and concluding a peace agreement. Putin said negotiations could be based on discussions held with Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, in August 2025, and that "the conflict will quickly reach its natural conclusion" if Ukraine accepts the compromises discussed. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Uma coisa não exclui a outra. Controlar toda a região de Donbas e concluir um acordo não são mutuamente excludentes"
According to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, "neither side can have a peace agreement unless both sides make concessions — that's a fact." Rubio stated that "if not, it's just called surrender. And neither side is going to surrender. So both sides are going to have to make concessions." ✓
Press quotes (1)
"You can't have a peace agreement unless both sides make concessions – that's a fact. That's true in virtually any negotiation. If not, it's just called surrender. And neither side is going to surrender. So both sides are going to have to make concessions."
Data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) shows that Russian forces gained control of only 40.64 square kilometers between December 2025 and May 2026 — only 7.87% of the territorial advance Russia achieved in the equivalent 2024-2025 period. ISW recorded that Russian forces suffered a net loss of 281.1 square kilometers of controlled territory in the same period. ?
Press quotes (1)
"ISW observed evidence to assess that Russian forces gained control of or infiltrated 40.64 square kilometers between December 2025 and May 2026. Russian forces advanced into 515.84 square kilometers from December 2024 to May 2025, compared to the 40.64 square kilometers into which they advanced or infiltrated in the same time period in 2025-2026. Russian forces thus seized or infiltrated into only 7.87 percent as much territory in 2026 as they advanced into in 2025."
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (2)
Conflicting versions (1)
Recent Russian territorial advances
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What are the specific terms of the commitments discussed between Putin and Trump in Anchorage?
Why it's still unknown: Putin mentioned that negotiations could be based on the meeting with Trump in Alaska, but did not detail the content of the agreed commitments
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What would be the European Union's position as mediator in negotiations?
Why it's still unknown: Putin questioned the EU's capacity as mediator for providing direct assistance to Ukraine, but there is no official European response
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What specific military neutrality guarantees would Kyiv have to offer?
Why it's still unknown: Sources mention demands for neutrality and limiting NATO expansion, but do not detail specific mechanisms