Charles Mains

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accuses Russia of stalling for time to improve its battlefield position. Meanwhile, Moscow continues to demand what a senior Russian foreign ministry official called ironclad security guarantees, excluding Ukraine from NATO membership and ruled out NATO-aligned European peacekeepers monitoring any ceasefire, if and when it comes. Charles Mains, NPR News.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accuses Russia of stalling for time to improve its battlefield position. Meanwhile, Moscow continues to demand what a senior Russian foreign ministry official called ironclad security guarantees, excluding Ukraine from NATO membership and ruled out NATO-aligned European peacekeepers monitoring any ceasefire, if and when it comes. Charles Mains, NPR News.

According to the Kremlin, Putin met with Witkoff late evening and passed on additional information and signals about the ceasefire proposal to President Trump. In his lone public remarks on the offer, Putin expressed appreciation for Trump's diplomatic efforts and endorsed the idea of a ceasefire in principle, but Putin also presented a list of issues that warranted further discussions.

According to the Kremlin, Putin met with Witkoff late evening and passed on additional information and signals about the ceasefire proposal to President Trump. In his lone public remarks on the offer, Putin expressed appreciation for Trump's diplomatic efforts and endorsed the idea of a ceasefire in principle, but Putin also presented a list of issues that warranted further discussions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Moscow of stalling negotiations to prolong the war, Yet Trump and his lead negotiators continue to express cautious optimism. Charles Mains, NPR News.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Moscow of stalling negotiations to prolong the war, Yet Trump and his lead negotiators continue to express cautious optimism. Charles Mains, NPR News.

The Trump team has already gone on record saying no to Ukraine's membership in NATO, no to Ukraine regaining all its territory. And all of this has put the U.S. 's relationships with its traditional allies in Europe in turmoil. So you have to think, you know, even if Putin doesn't agree to this ceasefire deal as presented here, he'll be looking for ways to present counteroffers.

The Trump team has already gone on record saying no to Ukraine's membership in NATO, no to Ukraine regaining all its territory. And all of this has put the U.S. 's relationships with its traditional allies in Europe in turmoil. So you have to think, you know, even if Putin doesn't agree to this ceasefire deal as presented here, he'll be looking for ways to present counteroffers.

The Baltic countries' decision to switch from Russian to European power had long been planned, but took on new urgency in the wake of the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Government officials said cutting the cord with Moscow was now a matter of national security. arguing any connection to Russian energy left their nations open to blackmail or sabotage.

The Baltic countries' decision to switch from Russian to European power had long been planned, but took on new urgency in the wake of the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Government officials said cutting the cord with Moscow was now a matter of national security. arguing any connection to Russian energy left their nations open to blackmail or sabotage.

The move comes amid a spate of mysterious attacks on regional infrastructure that have further raised tensions with Moscow. In a ceremony in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, European dignitaries hailed the successful power switch as ushering in a new era of freedom, with locals later given chunks of souvenir wire from the now-dead Russian transmission lines. Charles Mainz, NPR News.

The move comes amid a spate of mysterious attacks on regional infrastructure that have further raised tensions with Moscow. In a ceremony in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, European dignitaries hailed the successful power switch as ushering in a new era of freedom, with locals later given chunks of souvenir wire from the now-dead Russian transmission lines. Charles Mainz, NPR News.

He's caused a lot of chaos today in the blockage of all these roads.

He's caused a lot of chaos today in the blockage of all these roads.