The Latest Breaking News from Kyiv

The two sides sat opposite each other at a U-shaped table in the Turkey's Dolmabahce Palace but remained far apart in their conditions for ending the war. Nevertheless, a Russian spokesperson later floated the possibility of Putin and Zelenskyy meeting if negotiations reach "certain agreements."

Path to peace looks as unclear as it was before European leaders’ meeting with Zelenskyy in Kyiv

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.

Pope Leo XIV has met at the Vatican with the head of the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine

Two sides set for first direct negotiations since March 2022 but Russia’s lower-level delegation in Istanbul seen as snub

Ukraine’s president confirmed that he has agreed to send the delegation to Istanbul for a lower-level talk with Russia’s representatives, but he will not be present there himself.

Russia's former culture minister and Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky took part in failed talks with Ukraine at the start of Moscow's invasion in 2022 and has built a career promoting an ultra-patriotic version of Russian history.

Russia has rejected Ukraine’s repeated offer of a comprehensive, unconditional 30-day ceasefire which Mr Zelensky says would allow for proper peace negotiations to take place