Kiev, Ukraine (AP) – Russia has carried out nighttime attacks involving over 100 Sharp and Decoy drones in Ukraine, as reported by the Ukrainian Air Force on Monday. This comes after Russia declined an unconditional 30-day ceasefire following three years of conflict.
From the Kremlin, there hasn’t been any response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s suggestion for a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week in Turkey.
The U.S. and European nations are working together to find a way to halt the ongoing violence. Currently, Russian forces control about 20% of Ukraine.
Over the weekend, there was a notable uptick in diplomatic activity, yet Russia dismissed the ceasefire proposal put forth by U.S. and European leaders but did engage in direct talks with Ukraine on Thursday.
Ukraine, alongside its European partners, had urged Russia to agree to a ceasefire starting Monday before engaging in peace discussions. Moscow turned down this offer, suggesting instead to hold negotiations directly in Istanbul.
U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that Ukraine will accept Russia’s proposals. Zelensky has gone further, insisting on personal meetings between the leaders to pressure Putin.
“Ukraine wants to end this war and is doing everything to achieve that,” Zelensky noted on Telegram on Monday. “We expect the right actions from Russia.”
During his initial phone call with the new Pope, Zelensky discussed his quest for peace and the return of thousands of children allegedly deported by Russia. He also invited the Pope to visit Ukraine.
In his midday blessing on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV called for a genuine and just peace in Ukraine, expressing his heartfelt concern for the suffering of the Ukrainian people.
In the war’s early months in 2022, Zelensky made repeated requests for personal meetings with Putin, only to be turned down. Ultimately, Zelensky declared negotiations with Putin to be impossible.
Historically, Putin and Zelensky have only met once, back in 2019.
