**Ukraine-Russia Peace Negotiations**
Former US Ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, has expressed strong doubts about the current negotiating strategy of President Donald Trump in talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
In an interview with The Kyiv Independent’s Chris York, McFaul described Trump’s approach as “incredibly bad” and said it would only lead to more concessions from Ukraine. He also highlighted the ideological parallels between Putinism and MAGA (Make America Great Again).
**Ukraine-Russia Conflict**
The conflict in eastern Ukraine continues with Russian forces advancing on key areas. According to reports, at least 14 civilians were killed and 33 injured over the past day.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged a “sober” assessment of the battlefield situation and called for Ukrainian military commanders to prioritize saving lives. He also stressed that Ukraine would not forget about the ongoing conflict and its victims.
**Ukraine-Russia Ceasefire**
Talks between Ukraine, Russia, and other international parties are underway to establish a ceasefire agreement. Any deal would need to take into account Russian battlefield advances and provide guarantees for Moscow’s security concerns.
Sources have told Reuters that any ceasefire agreement would require significant concessions from Ukraine. The situation is complex and ongoing talks are expected to be challenging.
**Economic Sanctions**
Meanwhile, Ukrainian banks are struggling with economic sanctions imposed by Russia. According to a report, Raiffeisen Capital holds around 31.7 billion rubles ($365 million) in sanctioned entities such as Sberbank bank or Gazprom energy giant.
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