Overview

• Russia and Ukraine held their first face-to-face talks since 2022 in Istanbul, agreeing to a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange but failing to reach a ceasefire.
• Russian negotiators demanded Ukraine withdraw troops from occupied regions, including Donetsk and Luhansk, before agreeing to a truce, a condition Kyiv rejects.
• A Russian drone strike on a civilian evacuation bus in Ukraine's Sumy region killed nine people, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian toll of the conflict.
• President Trump announced plans to separately call Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday to push for a ceasefire and discuss ending the war.
• Ukraine and Western allies are urging stronger sanctions on Russia, with skepticism growing over Moscow's willingness to negotiate in good faith.