Russia, represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, refuses to compromise on occupied Ukrainian territories and insists on retaining control over Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. The Kremlin demands security guarantees and rejects any truce that would allow Ukraine to regroup. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy reports progress in negotiations with US officials, while Moscow maintains its demands and intensifies attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure, leading to significant civilian casualties. Despite the hardships, a majority of Ukrainians are willing to endure the war.