Witkoff, the man whom Washington has sent to negotiate with Putin this week, is viewed with suspicion by Kyiv and its allies after a leaked phone call suggested he was advising Moscow on how to deal with Trump, according to a transcript published by Bloomberg News.

Five hours of talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and top United States negotiators did not yield a breakthrough compromise on a possible Ukraine peace deal, a Kremlin aide said early Wednesday.

Recent strikes are hitting at the core of Russia’s economy, but they are risky, and their ultimate impact is uncertain.

The Kremlin confirmed an American delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. Kyiv said some “tough issues” still have to be worked out.

Russian attacks kill three in Kyiv as Ukrainian delegation races to U.S. for urgent peace negotiations. Ukrainian delegation is headed by national security chief Rustem Umerov. Russia reports a major oil terminal halted operations after a Ukrainian strike.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman has condemned Ukrainian drone attacks on two Russian “shadow fleet” oil tankers in the Black Sea

Russian drone and missile attacks on Kyiv killed at least two people and wounded 15 Saturday, officials said, as renewed U.S.-led peace negotiations gathered momentum

Moving between damp basements and muddy dugouts to fend off constant Russian attacks in the nearly 4-year-old war, exhausted Ukrainian soldiers say their motivation is fortified by knowing they're fighting for higher cause: the defense of their homeland.