Putin & Zelensky sign Zaporizhzhia deal without Trump; Russia-Ukraine dump US, opt for bilateralism?

The International Atomic Energy Agency has brokered a rare localized ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine to enable emergency repairs at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility. The agreement allows technicians to restore the final remaining backup power line after repeated disruptions caused by fighting around the site. The deal highlights growing European alarm over nuclear safety risks and underscores a shift toward pragmatic, risk-management diplomacy that bypasses traditional power brokers, including the United States. As fears mount that a nuclear incident would hit Europe first, the ceasefire signals a broader recalibration in how the war is being managed, with international agencies and regional actors quietly re-engaging Moscow to prevent catastrophe.