Russia launched on Sunday its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of the war, destroying homes and killing at least one woman a day before U.S. President Donald Trump is due to discuss a proposed ceasefire with Russia's Vladimir Putin.

Reflecting on recent developments around the talks in Türkiye, Ashcroft writes that for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2014, Putin appeared cornered. Journalists gathered in Istanbul in anticipation of a historic breakthrough,

On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly said he would bring an end to the war within a day of taking office. Putin said Russia's goal is to remove what he called the root causes of the conflict in Ukraine and create conditions for lasting peace, according to the RBC news agency.