Ukraine war briefing: Putin says ‘no point’ meeting Zelenskyy, insists Russia will win the war Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected an offer from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a face-to-face meeting, asserting that Russia will achieve its war aims in Ukraine, including controlling the Donbas region. Zelenskyy criticized Putin’s response, stating it shows a lack of desire to end the conflict. The article also details ongoing attacks in Ukraine, drone incidents near St. Petersburg and in Romania, and Russia’s claims regarding occupied territories.

• Putin rejected Zelenskyy’s offer for a face-to-face meeting, citing “no point” and insisting Russia will achieve its war goals.
• Zelenskyy stated Putin’s rejection indicates the Kremlin’s unwillingness to end the conflict.
• Russian attacks killed five people in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region.
• A sea drone self-destructed near an oil terminal in Romania’s Black Sea port of Constanta.
• Russia’s nuclear energy corporation Rosatom reported a Ukrainian drone strike on engineers near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
• Putin had a “good and friendly” meeting with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who the EU has rejected as a mediator.
• Russia claims to control all of Luhansk and over 85% of Donetsk, demanding Ukraine also cede Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.