President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered a three-day truce with Ukraine to coincide with Moscow's World War II commemorations next month that his Ukrainian rival slammed as an "attempt at manipulation".
US President Donald Trump said he believed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was ready to concede Crimea to Russia as part of any ceasefire deal, as talks on a truce entered what Washington called a critical week on Monday.
US President Donald Trump cast doubt on whether Russian leader Vladimir Putin wants a peace deal, shortly after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the hush of St Peter's Basilica before Pope Francis's funeral Saturday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday discussed the "possibility" of direct talks with Ukraine in a meeting with a US envoy, the Kremlin said, while President Donald Trump claimed the warring parties were "very close to a deal".
Russia's foreign minister said Thursday that Moscow was ready to do a deal on its war in Ukraine after Donald Trump urged Vladimir Putin to halt attacks, in a rare rebuke following the deadliest strikes on Kyiv in months.
As Russian missiles rained on Kyiv overnight in Moscow's biggest attack on Ukraine's capital in months, Anna Balamutova grabbed her children and ran to a shelter, saying they were saved by a "miracle".
Russia launched a missile attack Thursday on Kyiv, killing at least two and wounding dozens hours after US President Donald Trump lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for refusing to accept Moscow's occupation of Crimea as a peace deal.
The United States has piled pressure on Ukraine and Russia to find a peace agreement, with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance threatening to walk away if a deal is not made.
President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday praised Russia's developing ties with Myanmar, during a visit by the Asian country's junta chief to its key ally.
Russia's FSB security service said Friday it had thwarted a Ukrainian-ordered plot to kill Tikhon Shevkunov, a senior bishop in the Russian Orthodox Church with close links to President Vladimir Putin.