NEW: Discussions underway for Trump-Zelenskyy meeting in U.S. by end of month

Geopolitical Landscape & Negotiations - US delegation, including Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, is meeting with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine [1] - Ukrainian officials report progress on a peace plan, but the White House indicates delicate details remain [1] - Russia launched a large-scale attack on Kyiv, resulting in at least seven deaths, while a Ukrainian attack on southern Russia caused three deaths [2] - Top Ukrainian official Rustam Umarov stated that the US and Ukraine have reached a common understanding of the core terms of a peace deal, with President Zelenskyy hoping to meet with President Trump to finalize it [4] - Discussions are underway for a possible Trump-Zelenskyy meeting next month, but nothing is finalized [11] - Negotiations should ideally involve Russia, Ukraine, the United States, and the Europeans [10] Military Situation & Analysis - Russia's strikes are targeting critical energy infrastructure and residential buildings [4] - Analysts suggest Russia has only gained 1% of territory in Ukraine since 2022 [6] - The conflict is described as a brutal, attritional fight, a battle of endurance and will, resembling trench warfare, with drones dominating the air [7][8] - Russia may be using brutal acts to assert itself and dominate, aiming to make Ukraine submit [14] Potential Resolution & Challenges - A ceasefire and peacekeepers or observers along the line are crucial to stopping the fighting [12] - The ongoing bloodshed, with numerous Ukrainian and Russian casualties, complicates negotiations [13] - Russia wants Ukraine to cede land, which is a major sticking point [6] - There's a perception that President Trump believes Russia is making major advances, but the actual situation on the ground may differ [6]