High-level talks between Russia and Ukraine continue with promises of prisoner swaps despite significant disagreements on ceasefire terms. While diplomacy avenues remain open, Russia's demands challenge progress.

Following years of outright conflict in Ukraine, President Donald Trump said that he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin wants peace between the two countries.

After the Trump-Putin phone call, there is a stalemate on Ukraine: the US president's words shuffle the cards again and leave EU leaders "shocked". Pope Leo is available to host peace talks

Russia will not return to negotiations with Ukraine until October, after it tries to conduct a summer offensive, and its economy collapses. It is reported by DW* with reference to Ukrainian experts.

Russian and Ukrainian representatives finally held direct talks in Istanbul on Friday, marking the first direct engagement between two sides since their meeting in the Turkish city in March 2022, after a scheduled negotiation on Thursday failed to materialize.

France is spearheading a renewed European effort to impose sweeping new sanctions on Russia, linking economic pressure to the urgent push for a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin spoke for more than two hours over the war in Ukraine on Monday. It came after the White House said the US president had grown “frustrated” with the conflict and planned a separate call with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky in the hope of making progress towards a ceasefire.

United States president Donald Trump is keen for Ukraine to cut a deal, declaring, “HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!” But Germany has threatened more sanctions on Russia if president Vladimir Putin doesn’t agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Europe’s leaders claim Trump is betraying a fight for freedom and democracy.

Ukraine and Russia ... blackmail instead of negotiations, and instead of compromises there is a list of ultimatums, including the demand to cede Ukrainian territory to Russia."