Ukraine war briefing: Trump to meet Zelenskyy at Nato summit as US says battlefield progress ‘frozen’

What Happened

A senior US official, briefing reporters anonymously, said President Donald Trump will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a NATO summit in Turkey this week and feels a 'real sense of urgency' to end the war, describing the battlefield as 'frozen over the last couple of months' with neither side making significant progress. Trump also spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a lengthy call, offering to help find a solution, according to a Kremlin aide. Zelenskyy confirmed a 'very good' conversation with Trump about the 1,200-km frontline. Simultaneously, Kyiv came under a Russian missile attack early Monday; Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported a residential building hit in the Podil district, with people trapped on upper floors. Drone debris fell in other districts. Zelenskyy warned on Sunday that intelligence indicated Russia was preparing a major new strike, days after at least 27 were killed in what Klitschko called the war's worst attack on Kyiv. In Russian-occupied Crimea, the Moscow-appointed governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, said a Ukrainian attack on energy infrastructure left the city without electricity. One person was killed and two injured in northern Crimea, according to Russian-installed officials. On the eastern front, Zelenskyy stated Kyiv's troops were still battling for Kostyantynivka, rejecting Kremlin claims of its capture. Russia's defence ministry claimed Ukraine refused to halt shelling to allow handover of fallen soldiers' bodies; Ukraine did not immediately comment.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

Trump's direct engagement and the US assessment of a frozen frontline signal a potential diplomatic pivot, with pressure on both sides to negotiate amid continuing Russian strikes on Kyiv and critical infrastructure. The contested status of Kostyantynivka and attacks on Crimea underscore that neither side has achieved decisive military advantage, while the threat of a large new Russian strike keeps Western aid and air defence support immediately relevant.

Watch For

Outcomes of the Trump-Zelenskyy NATO summit meeting this week, including any ceasefire proposals or shifts in US policy. Verification of Russia's claimed capture of Kostyantynivka and Ukrainian counterclaims. Possible large-scale Russian missile strike on Ukraine, as warned by Zelenskyy. Restoration of electricity in Sevastopol and further strikes on Crimean infrastructure.