New York Times

1. In Firing His No. 2, Zelensky Loses Both a Negotiator and an Enforcer

   Andriy Yermak had ensured internal discipline in Ukraine’s wartime politics. He also led the country’s peace negotiations, which now must go on without him.

2. The Ukrainians Stuck in Russia’s New Gulag

   Even if a peace can be reached, it won’t be easy to solve the problem of Ukrainian civilians languishing in Russian jails. This is one prisoner’s story.

3. Russia Bombards Ukraine for Nearly 10 Hours in a Deadly Assault

   The attack came as U.S. officials were expected to hold peace talks with Ukrainian and Russian officials in the coming days.

4. South Africans Were Promised Job, but Ended Up ‘Going to War’ for Russia

   The South African government is investigating how more than a dozen men unwittingly ended up on the front line in Russia’s war on Ukraine.

5. Trump to Pardon Juan Orlando Hernández, Honduran Ex-Leader Convicted in Drug Case

   Juan Orlando Hernández was accused of receiving millions in bribes and partnering with cocaine traffickers. He was convicted in Manhattan in 2024 and sentenced to 45 years in prison.