Ukrainian President's Office adviser on victory plan: There will be o frozen war, ceasefire or transferring territories to Russia

Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser to the Ukrainian President's Office, has stated that Ukraine's strategy does not include freezing the conflict, declaring a ceasefire, or transferring territory to Russia. He emphasized that President Zelenskyy believes freezing the conflict would only allow Russia to regroup and continue its aggression. Ukraine’s official stance is that the war must end with Russia's defeat, which can be achieved through military, diplomatic, economic, and political pressure.

Podoliak also mentioned the Kursk operation as part of Ukraine's victory plan, suggesting it would affect social sentiments in Russia and increase pressure on Putin's regime. He pointed out that Western partners aim for international law to prevail, which requires Russia's tactical or strategic defeat, as any other outcome would lead to further escalation. Ukrainian diplomacy is actively working on this issue in discussions with Western partners.

Ukrainian Parliament approves customs reform

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has adopted draft law No. 6490-d, initiating customs reform with 260 votes in favor. This reform aligns with guidelines from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and the US. Key changes include a revised selection process for the head of the State Customs Service, modeled after practices of anti-corruption bodies like the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine.

The reform also involves international experts in organizing the selection of attestation commission members and grants the head of the State Customs Service the authority to appoint deputies without requiring approval from the Minister of Finance. Additionally, the reform includes independent audits of customs bodies, re-attestation, recruitment procedures, and increased salaries for customs officials.

Sources close to Trump say US-Russia negotiations can end war in Ukraine

Donald Trump Jr. and Robert Kennedy Jr. have called for negotiations between the US and Russia to end the war in Ukraine. They argue that Russia's lack of response to actions like Ukraine's strikes on Crimea and Russian territory, or the decision to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, indicates Russian "restraint" rather than weakness.

They express concern that allowing Ukraine to use US-supplied weapons to strike Russian targets could trigger a nuclear war, emphasizing that the US is close to a potential nuclear confrontation. They also question the notion that Russia might invade NATO countries, citing Russia's difficulty in capturing Ukrainian territories and the initial war aims focused on Ukrainian neutrality and halting NATO expansion.

Both advocate for de-escalation and suggest that the US should initiate direct negotiations with Moscow, referencing Donald Trump's promise to end the war in Ukraine if elected. Trump Jr. and Kennedy Jr. support Trump's stance but it's unclear how closely their views align with his official policy.

Around 40% of those released from Russian captivity are people who were reported missing 

Nearly 40% of the people Ukraine has managed to bring back from Russian captivity were initially listed as missing persons under special circumstances. Their detention in Russia was not confirmed by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliamentary Human Rights Commissioner, emphasized this during a meeting with the families of prisoners of war and missing persons. "For us, there is no legal distinction between them and those who have the status of prisoners of war. We are making every effort to bring back each and every one of them," he assured.

A soldier is considered missing if they haven't returned from a mission, if their status as a prisoner of war hasn't been confirmed, or if their comrades and relatives haven't received their body. Even if fellow soldiers witnessed their capture by the Russians, the fighter is listed as missing in action until the International Committee of the Red Cross or another source confirms other information.

The information held by a military unit about a captured soldier may differ from what's available in the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War or other government agencies. Despite these complexities, whether a prisoner's status is confirmed or not does not affect the process of prisoner swaps.