Overview

• President Trump held separate calls with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy on May 19, aiming to break the diplomatic deadlock in the Russia-Ukraine war.
• The U.S. administration has signaled potential new sanctions against Russia if Putin fails to engage seriously in peace negotiations.
• Both Russia and Ukraine have committed to a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange, expected to occur later this week as a confidence-building measure.
• Russia launched its largest drone barrage of the war, deploying 273 drones against multiple Ukrainian regions, underscoring ongoing military escalation.
• European leaders, including French President Macron, have urged Putin to accept a 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposed by Trump and supported by Ukraine.