Russia unleashed a deadly wave of drone and missile strikes across Ukraine on Saturday, killing at least two people, including a 9-year-old girl, as uncertainty looms over possible peace talks in Istanbul next week. Ukrainian officials say Russian forces launched 109 drones and five missiles overnight, with Ukrainian air defenses downing three missiles and 42 drones, while another 30 drones failed to reach their targets.
Russia has proposed holding a new round of peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2, aiming to present a memorandum addressing the ongoing conflict.
President Donald Trump announced Monday that he may attend a high-stakes peace meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey, as both leaders prepare for direct talks aimed at ending the conflict. Trump emphasized the urgency of diplomatic engagement, saying he would fly to the meeting if it would help end what he called a “bloodbath.”
President Donald Trump confirmed he urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to pursue a peace deal with Russia during their widely viewed meeting at the Vatican.
President Donald Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday to immediately finalize a rare earth minerals deal with the United States, a move critical to countering China’s dominance in the sector. Trump also reported that peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are progressing "smoothly."
Russia has stipulated that any prospective peace agreement with Ukraine must include "ironclad" guarantees ensuring Ukraine's neutrality and permanent exclusion from NATO membership.
