The Latest Breaking News from Volodymyr Zelenksyy

The Russian president earlier proposed direct talks with Ukraine but then rejected speaking to Volodymyr Zelensky face-to-face and stayed away from a meeting in Istanbul

Ukraine and Russia meet in Istanbul for ceasefire talks, with Zelenskyy urging Putin to engage directly. Kyiv's top priority is a 30-day ceasefire and peace efforts.

There is one topic on which Kyiv and Moscow will never agree, and yet, for both sides, this point is of the utmost importance — Crimea. Olha Kuryshko, the Ukrainian president’s permanent representative in Crimea, told Euronews that Russia implemented its 2014 techniques on all occupied territories.

Rustem Umerov, who heads Ukraine's delegation at peace talks with Russia on Friday, is a skilled and pragmatic negotiator, hailed by his colleagues as a worker of diplomatic "wonders".

IN FULL

These are the key events on day 1,177 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The head of Russia’s delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, said his side was ‘generally satisfied’ with Friday’s meeting

Zelensky accuses Moscow of sending ‘theatre prop’ negotiating team to Turkey

Delegations from Moscow and Kyiv will be in Istanbul Friday for what could be their first direct meeting on the conflict in Ukraine since 2022, but the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin leaves little hope for progress in ending the war.

The European Union military chief announced that the bloc plans to double its heavy calibre ammunition delivery to Ukraine this year to better equip Kyiv in its fight against Moscow.

Gen. Oleg Salyukov is the latest high-ranking military figure to be dismissed; Germany’s Merz says EU sanctions on Russia ready for Tuesday. What we know on day 1,178