Each side is seeking to call the other’s bluff by demonstrating they alone want peace while the other is the obstacle.

President Vladimir Putin said Russia had sufficient strength and resources to take the war in Ukraine to its logical conclusion, though he hoped that there would be no need to use nuclear weapons. Putin ordered thousands of Russian troops into Ukraine ...

Moscow thinks it’s winning in Ukraine and can play hardball diplomatically. Washington sees costly, incremental gains and an unrealistic negotiating position.

The EU is preparing new sanctions on Russia despite a potential meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday, three sources told CNBC.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is prepared to meet Vladimir Putin this week, shortly after US President Donald Trump urged him to “immediately” accept the Russian leader’s offer to hold peace talks in Turkey.

Russia has called for direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul, but Ukraine’s European allies maintain Putin needs to be pressured into a ceasefire first.

Kremlin slams ‘unacceptable’ ceasefire ultimatum after Moscow told to agree today - Volodymyr Zelensky says he is ready to meet Putin ‘personally’ this week in Istanbul, Turkey, for peace talks

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 80 Shahed drones over the country’s eastern, northern, central, and western regions. An additional 42 Russian decoy drones were lost in various locations, causing no reported damage.