Putin proposes 'humanitarian mission' in contested Kostiantynivka, says demining is necessary

Key Points:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a temporary "humanitarian mission" in Kostiantynivka, claiming Russian control and offering a ceasefire to evacuate civilians, while urging Ukraine to reciprocate with measures like demining.
• Kyiv rejected Russia's claims of control over Kostiantynivka, warning that similar past humanitarian pauses allowed Russian forces to reinforce positions, raising concerns about Moscow using the ceasefire to advance militarily.
• The proposal came amid ongoing fighting in Kostiantynivka, a strategic town in Donetsk Oblast critical to Russia's efforts to control the region, with negotiations on territorial control expected to be prolonged.
• The Moscow meeting with U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff followed stalled peace talks in Abu Dhabi, which yielded a potential prisoner exchange agreement but no broader ceasefire or peace deal.
• U.S. envoys saw possible openings in negotiations and planned to brief Ukrainian President Zelensky, who is attending a European summit, while Russian officials continue to press territorial demands amid complex battlefield conditions.