Putin's secret envoy and NATO warning highlight Russia‑Ukraine diplomatic tensions

At a recent NATO summit, the alliance’s chief addressed Russian youth directly, warning that President Vladimir Putin is prepared to sacrifice tens of thousands of soldiers each month. He said a young man who joins the Russian army could become one of the 30,000 deaths expected in a single month, urging potential recruits to reconsider enlistment.

In a parallel development, President Vladimir Putin is reported to have sent billionaire Roman Abramovich on a clandestine mission to Kyiv to convey a message from Moscow and receive a reply. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the meeting, expressed mistrust of Moscow’s secrecy, and declared, “Wir werden euch keinen Sieg schenken” (We will not give you a victory). Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine will not relinquish the Donbass and suggested a cease‑fire as the greatest possible concession, while remaining open to direct talks that would not take place on Russian or Belarusian soil.