Overview

• Kyiv and Moscow will hold a third round of direct talks in Istanbul on July 23 after two earlier sessions produced only prisoner swaps.
• Russian forces launched 426 drones and 24 missiles overnight, killing at least one person and wounding others in Kyiv while damaging residential districts.
• The Kremlin warned that Ukrainian and Russian proposals remain diametrically opposed, indicating extensive diplomatic work is needed before any breakthrough.
• The European Union and France imposed fresh sanctions on Russia this week and President Trump has issued a 50-day ultimatum threatening severe penalties if no peace deal is reached.
• Iran agreed to resume nuclear discussions with Germany, France and the UK in Istanbul on July 25 under pressure from threatened snap-back sanctions and recent regional strikes.