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.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has agreed to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on Thursday, following calls from President Donald Trump for immediate peace negotiations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded Sunday to Russia’s proposal for direct peace talks by welcoming the idea—but only under the condition of an immediate and temporary ceasefire. Zelenskyy reiterated his call for a 30-day unconditional halt to hostilities, emphasizing that a ceasefire is the “very first step” to ending the war.
Russian occupation authorities have unveiled a bust of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin in the Ukrainian city of Melitopol, marking the first such monument erected in seized territory since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. The unveiling took place Thursday as part of Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, commemorating its role in defeating Nazi Germany during World War II.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's declared three-day ceasefire, intended to coincide with Victory Day celebrations, unraveled within hours as Russian forces launched attacks on Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region.
A Russian drone assault on Kharkiv late Friday left 47 civilians wounded and triggered a renewed plea from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for stronger international support. Drones struck 12 locations across Ukraine’s second-largest city, damaging residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, according to local officials.
The European Union (EU), led by France, is finalizing a 17th round of sanctions targeting Russia, reinforcing growing transatlantic unity aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
Two Ukrainian nationals are facing federal charges for allegedly voting illegally in the 2024 U.S. presidential election while not holding American citizenship. The Department of Justice announced that 53-year-old Svitlana Demydenko and her 22-year-old daughter, Yelyzaveta Demydenko, both appeared before a federal judge in West Palm Beach on April 29.
President Trump’s ambassador-at-large, Steve Witkoff, faces growing criticism for his inexperienced and ineffective approach to high-stakes negotiations with Russia, Iran, and Islamist terror groups.
