A Kremlin spokesman says Russia and Ukraine have no scheduled direct peace talks. The statement Thursday came nearly a week after their first face-to-face meeting since the early weeks of Moscow's invasion in 2022 and days after U.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said Russia was engaging in "yet another deception" by failing to present its peace settlement proposal ahead of a potential meeting between the two sides.

Russia may find itself in a disadvantageous position in the eyes of the United States if it fails to show flexibility in peace negotiations with Ukraine, states Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, according to Anadolu.

By Olena Harmash and Vlad Smilianets KYIV/DNIPRO, Ukraine (Reuters) -Mariupol natives Oleksandr and Liudmyla Lytvyn fled home three years ago during Russia's 86-day siege of the port city in southern Ukraine.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged Wednesday to help Ukraine develop its own long-range missile systems.