Putin and Zelenskyy Consider Meeting Amid Discussions on Ukraine’s Future Elections and Mail-In Voting Strategies

Good morning. You’re reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.

Today’s top stories

President Trump announced on social media yesterday that he would facilitate a direct meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He says he’ll hold trilateral talks with the two leaders afterward, but did not provide details on when these would take place. This development comes after Trump met Zelenskyy and a delegation of European leaders at the White House in an effort to end the war Russia launched in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Trump meet in the Oval Office ahead of talks Monday on bringing an end to the war between Ukraine and Russia. Several European leaders joined Zelenskyy as they try to find a way to end Russia’s offensive.

Mandel and/AFP

hide caption

toggle caption

Mandel and/AFP

• 🎧 The White House is trying to create a sense of momentum after talks with Putin, Zelenskyy and the European leadersNPR’s Danielle Kurtzleben Tells Up First. Yesterday, leaders discussed security guarantees to keep peace in Ukraine if there is a deal. Trump said a guarantee would require “coordination” from the U.S., and that Putin would be open to one. The European leaders also discussed the return of Ukrainian prisoners held in Russia, including children, which Trump thinks Putin would be open to. Ukraine wants a ceasefire before any more talks because it’s concerned that Russia could drag out the war without one. Trump says he doesn’t oppose a ceasefire but that it’s not necessary.
• 🎧 Late last night, Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that Trump and the Russian leader discussed the possibility of direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv. Trump is moving fast and operating in broad agreements, whereas Putin focuses on the details, which can slow down the process, NPR’s Charles Maynes says. Maynes says he heard several Russian red lines during the talks in Washington, D.C., yesterday. This includes European troops on the ground in Ukraine and Zelenskyy’s call for arms sales, which would contradict Putin’s demands for Ukraine to demilitarize.

Lawmakers in Texas and California are back to work in their state capitols as the battle to redistrict intensifies across the country. Texas Democrats returned to the state after fleeing for two weeks to stall a newly drawn congressional map favoring the GOP. They stated they would end their standoff if California Democrats put together their own redistricting map to counter the one in Texas. California Democrats released a map that could result in five more Democratic seats in the U.S. House to offset the expected five new Republican seats from Texas.

• 🎧 Democrats in California say they plan to vote on the map this week and get it in front of voters in November. In order to do that, lawmakers have to pass the bill by a two-thirds vote. The passage is likely because Democrats hold a supermajority in the state, says Laura Fitzgerald with CapRadio in Sacramento. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Democratic lawmakers and other leaders have launched a campaign urging voters to support the measure. Republicans are threatening to file lawsuits challenging the ballot measure, as they say Democrats are sidelining California’s independent redistricting commission, which is in the state’s constitution, by going to voters.
• ➡️ Here’s how redistricting in Texas and California can change whose votes really matter in the 2026 congressional elections.

Trump announced yesterday that he aims to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines before next year’s midterm elections. Part of his plan involves signing an executive order barring states from potentially using either option. He said, without evidence, that the machines are inaccurate, expensive and less reliable than counting paper ballots.

Today’s listen

Beyoncé performs during the first weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2018.

Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Coachella

hide caption

toggle caption

Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Coachella

Pop Culture Happy Hour turns 15 this summer. When the show began, its hosts had many pent-up hot takes. To celebrate their anniversary, they’re breaking open a time capsule to see if they held up. Is Netflix better than cable? Will Beyoncé’s career have longevity? Are homemade costumes cool? Revisit some of the show’s earliest moments and decide for yourself how well the hosts’ opinions have aged.

Picture show

Bad Bunny performs at the Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum, known as ‘El Choli’, for his residency concert on Sunday, July 27, 2025, in San Juan, P.R.

World renowned Puerto Rican artist Benito A. Martinez Ocasio, known as Bad Bunny, is currently performing a 30-show residency in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Titled “I Don’t Want to Leave Here” (“No Me Quiero Ir De Aquí”, in Spanish) the series of weekend concerts will attract over 500,000 people as it celebrates Puerto Rican culture, mirroring the themes of his recent album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos (“I Should Have Taken More Photos”, in English). (Erika P. Rodríguez for NPR)

//erka P. Rodríguez For NPR

hide caption

toggle caption

//erka P. Rodríguez For NPR

Bad Bunny’s 30-concert residency in San Juan has instilled pride in Puerto Rican culture and helped ease the sorrow many feel about leaving their island. A decades-long debt crisis, worsening infrastructure, rising prices from gentrification, and declining services have compelled many Puerto Ricans to search for new opportunities elsewhere. The Puerto Rican rapper’s concerts have brought thousands back to the island. His residency is titled “No Me Quiero Ir De Aquí,” which means “I Don’t Want To Leave Here,” hinting at those wounds. On stage, the artist addresses the pain directly, reminding his fans that it doesn’t matter where they live, they are no less Puerto Rican. See how Bad Bunny and his fans are celebrating the island’s culture.

3 things to know before you go

Lucille and Leo Frank, played by Talia Suskauer and Max Chernin, in the national tour of Paradeabout a Jewish man falsely accused of murder in 1913. Parade ends its run at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C..

John Marcus

hide caption

toggle caption

John Marcus

1. Paradea Tony Award-winning musical about the real-life lynching of a Jewish man in 1915, arrives at the Kennedy Center this week amid antisemitic backlash against the show’s subject.
2. For two days each August, a tractor pull, a grassroots motorsport like no other, draws big crowds to a hamlet in Western New York.
3. Newsmax has agreed to pay $67 million to settle a defamation lawsuit against the news organization for broadcasting false claims that the 2020 election was rigged.

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.

What are the primary logistical challenges to conducting free and fair elections in Ukraine following the conflict, and how might international monitoring address these concerns?

Putin and Zelenskyy: Potential Talks and Ukraine’s Future Elections

The Shifting Sands of Negotiation: A Potential Putin-Zelenskyy Meeting

The possibility of direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sparks important global interest. Following years of conflict, any such meeting, whether virtual or in-person, would represent a pivotal moment. Discussions, rumored to be brokered by neutral parties, target the future of Ukraine and the terms around potential elections are key elements of these discussions.

Key Considerations:

• Security Guarantees: The foundation of any negotiation hinges on security assurances for Ukraine. What form these could take – international treaties, military alliances, or more – is central to the talks.
• Territorial Integrity: The status of Crimea and areas currently under Russian control remains a thorny issue. Any pathway to a resolution here is crucial.
• Ceasefire and Withdrawal: Concrete steps toward a ceasefire and Russian troop withdrawal are paramount for laying the groundwork for future stability.

Ukraine’s Future Elections and the Question of Voting Methods

A central component of these discussions revolves around planning for future Ukrainian elections. The context of ongoing conflict, internal displacement, and potential population shifts present massive challenges. One area of increasing debate centers on the utilization of mail-in voting.

Mail-In Voting: Exploring the Options

Proponents of mail-in voting argue it promotes electoral participation,especially for those geographically displaced,physically incapacitated,or serving in the military. However, this method presents challenges for its implementation in conflict zones.

• Accessibility: Ensuring the safe and secure delivery of ballots in active conflict zones is complex.
• Voter Verification: Safeguarding the integrity of mailed-in ballots requires robust voter ID and verification procedures.
• Security Concerns: The potential for ballot interference or fraud,especially in areas with restricted access,warrants serious consideration.

Alternative Voting Strategies

Alternative voting methods could be adopted to strengthen democratic values during the transition period.

• Electronic Voting: This method could be an option to safeguard the future elections in Ukraine.

The Voices of the Peopel

Public opinion, both within Ukraine and internationally, will be crucial in validating decisions. Any agreement must be acceptable to the Ukrainian people.

• Surveys, opinion polls, and referendums should play a key part in validating the decisions made.

Logistical Challenges: Preparing for Elections in a Post-Conflict Scenario

Assuming a resolution and transition begins, numerous logistical hurdles must be overcome for any election to take place. The planning process includes:

1. Voter Registration: Updating voter rolls amidst displacement and population movement requires a comprehensive system.
2. Election Administration: Training election officials, setting up polling stations, and providing transparent vote-counting processes are critical for maintaining faith in procedures.
3. International Monitoring: inviting international observers is a means of bolstering the legitimacy and clarity of the elections.

Conclusion

The prospect of talks between Putin and Zelenskyy, and the prospect of holding future elections in Ukraine in conjunction with discussing postal voting and other strategies are significant. The path to resolution will be complex, and the future of Ukraine depends on the details of future elections and their implementation.