Zelensky has rejected Russia's proposal as an ultimatum, insisting on a full ceasefire. Meanwhile, a second group of Russian POWs was released under a prisoner swap deal agreed in Istanbul, RT reported.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that he was "playing with fire" for stalling efforts to finalise a peace agreement with Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday said that 307 Ukrainian defenders have returned home as part of a negotiated exchange in Turkey. This brings the total number of returnees to 697 over two days, with the process expected to continue on Sunday.
According to a statement from the Office of the Vice President, the focus of the meeting was on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with discussions centred on their shared objective of halting the bloodshed in Ukraine.
"Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today. Secretary Rubio welcomed the prisoner exchange agreement reached during the May 16 Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul and delivered President Trump's strong message: the United States is committed to achie
In a statement shared on the Telegram messaging app, the Sumy regional administration said, "This is another war crime by Russia -- a deliberate strike on civilian transport that posed no threat."
In a televised address shared by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Putin emphasised that the talks should take place "without any preconditions" and that Turkey, under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, should once again serve as the host.
President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday welcomed the indication that Russia may be considering ending the war, calling it a positive sign. He emphasised the importance of a full, lasting, and reliable ceasefire as the first step towards peace.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday added the threat of additional sanctions from the US and "its partners" to his latest call for an "unconditional ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine that Moscow has repeatedly rejected, as per CNN.