During the G7 summit held in Evian on June 16-17, 2026, President Zelensky made two unexpected remarks that shed light on Ukraine's insights regarding Russia's internal dynamics. He disclosed a statistic indicating how many Russians secretly wish for the war to conclude, suggesting that Putin's domestic backing is weakening. Additionally, he cautioned that Russia is heading into a 'challenging winter', implying that Ukraine's efforts against Russian energy and logistical networks are exerting enduring strategic pressure on Moscow beyond the battlefield. In a separate discussion, Zelensky addressed the possibility of Roman Abramovich acting as a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow, offering a thoughtful reply. The German foreign ministry indicated that peace negotiations with Ukraine could commence as early as this summer. EU accession discussions started on June 16. Meanwhile, Ukraine's General Staff reported ongoing intense combat, with Russia suffering 1,230 troop losses on June 16 alone, bringing total losses to 1,385,420 since February 2022.
