Kyiv, Ukraine - Russia launched more than 100 Shahed and bait drones in Ukraine during a night attack, the Ukrainian Air Force said on Monday. Reject unconditional 30-day ceasefire In the war, it inspired three years ago. Meanwhile, the Kremlin did not respond to the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Challenge Face-to-face peace talks are held in Türkiye this week in order to get President Vladimir Putin to meet him.
The U.S. and European governments worked together to stop the battle, which killed thousands of soldiers on both sides and more than 10,000 Ukrainian civilians. Russia's invasion It has seized about one-fifth of control of Ukraine.
Amid a series of diplomatic developments over the weekend, Russia shys its ceasefire proposal from U.S. and European leaders but is willing to negotiate directly with Ukraine on Thursday. The Kremlin has not said whether Putin himself is willing to go to Türkiye to participate in these negotiations.
Ukraine, together with European allies, demanded a ceasefire from Monday before the start of peace talks. Moscow effectively rejected the proposal and instead called for direct negotiations in Istanbul.
President Trump insists that Ukraine accepts Russia's proposal. Zelenskyy took a step forward and put pressure on Putin by holding individual meetings among leaders.
"Ukraine wants to end this war and do everything for it," Zelenskyy said on Telegram on Monday. "We expect Russia to have the appropriate steps."
The Ukrainian leader said he told Pope Leo XIV about peace efforts during his first phone conversation with the new pope.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine was counting on the help of the Vatican to ensure that the thousands of children that the Kiev government said were deported by Russia, adding that he invited the pope to visit Ukraine.
"Ukraine relies on the help of bringing them home on the Vatican." I informed the pope of the agreement between Ukraine and our partner, starting today, starting today, at least a certain effort has been re-proposed. emphasize.
In his first Sunday noon blessing, Leo calls for a real peace in Ukraine.
The first leader of the Roman Catholic Church said: "I have suffered in my heart the suffering of my beloved Ukrainian people."
In 2022, in the early months of the war, Zelenskyy repeatedly called for a private meeting with the Russian president but was rejected and eventually issued a decree declaring that it was impossible to negotiate with Putin.
Putin and Zelenskyy only met once in 2019. Trump said the "deep hatred" between the two sides makes it difficult to promote peace efforts.