Steve Inskeep

Up First brings you three big stories of the day.

Consider this drills down on one.

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is willing to hold elections.

He is also willing to discuss giving up territory to Russia, but only if Ukrainians vote for it.

How would that work?

I'm Michelle Martin with Steve Inskeep, and this is Up First from NPR News.

A man illegally deported by the Trump administration in March and eventually returned is now free from immigration custody.

The Trump administration says it will appeal Kilmar Obrego-Garcia's court-ordered release.

Ukraine's president has an answer to pressure from the Trump administration.

The US wants Ukraine to surrender territory as part of a peace deal with Russia.

Volodymyr Zelensky says for that to happen, the Ukrainian people would have to speak through a referendum.

Zelensky and other Europeans are offering answers and alternatives to Trump's bid to end the war.

The US approach seems to favor Russia, although Russia has not accepted that either.

Abrego-Garcia was released on Thursday.

A judge ruled the government had not been able to produce a lawful order to remove him from the country.

This ruling came just as lawmakers have been pressing the Homeland Security Secretary about President Trump's compliance with court orders.

Republicans in those other states obeyed the president's order to skew the elections in Republicans' favor.

Republican state senators in my home state decided otherwise.

The president and his allies threatened consequences for Indiana if they did not submit.