International Relations & Diplomacy - Russia is downplaying the prospect of a face-to-face meeting between Vladimir Putin and Wimir Zalinski, suggesting thorough preparation is needed for any high-stakes bilateral talks [1][11] - The White House is considering arranging a trilateral meeting between Putin, Zalinsky, and Trump, potentially in Budapest [4] - Discussions are underway regarding security guarantees for Ukraine after the war, with the US potentially providing air support but not ground troops [5][6][13][14] - French President Emanuel Macron is pushing for Geneva as a meeting location, offering immunity for Putin due to the International Criminal Court arrest warrant [5] Military & Security - The British Ministry of Defense estimates it would take Russia four more years of fighting and cost nearly 2 million additional casualties to capture the remaining territories it illegally annexed in 2022 [6] - Russian strikes in Ukraine's northeastern region and Odessa injured at least 30 people and damaged port infrastructure [7] - Approximately 1,200 National Guard troops are being deployed to Washington DC from largely southern states [20] US Domestic Policy & Budget - A federal website tracking government spending is back online after a court order, following its removal by the Trump administration in March [24][25] - The White House and Congress are engaged in a budget fight, with potential for a government shutdown in September [26][28]