ISTANBUL − Russia's Vladimir Putin spurned a challenge to meet face-to-face with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Turkey, instead sending a second-tier delegation to planned peace talks, while Ukraine's president said his defence minister would head up Kyiv's team.

Delegations from Russia and Ukraine met in Turkey for peace talks, though key leaders like Putin and Trump were absent, leaving the potential for a major breakthrough uncertain and highlighting differing perspectives on the conflict's resolution.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin explores a potential peace settlement to end the war in Ukraine, hawkish anti-Western nationalists at home are waging a campaign to keep the conflict going.

The United States "doesn't have high expectations" for the negotiations in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine to end the war, Marco Rubio has admitted.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky might meet Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in Turkey on Thursday – if the Russian leader decides to show up for a summit that he himself suggested.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin explores a potential peace settlement to end the war in Ukraine, hawkish anti-Western nationalists at home are waging a campaign to keep the conflict going. “We surrender our weapons,

President Trump said he wasn’t surprised Putin skipped Ukraine peace talks, insisting no progress will happen without a personal meeting between them. He believes only direct talks with Putin can bring an end to the nearly three-year war.

Trump’s position is to put pressure on both sides. I believe that we were put under more pressure,' says Ukrainian president - Anadolu Ajansı

The war in Ukraine could escalate into a direct confrontation between the U.S. and Russia, according to the Pentagon. General Gregory Guillot, the head of the U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) issued the warning to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.

Putin last week declared a three-day ceasefire over May 8-10 to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies over Nazi Germany in World War Two. But the pause comes amid a backdrop of daily skirmishes, largely by drone warfare.