Latest Updates on Ukraine peace talks

A battle of attrition: Peace remains elusive in Ukraine as war drags on

Ukraine has lost a quarter of its pre-war population of 42 million, with five million living under Russian occupation and another six million having fled to Europe

Zelenskyy believes Putin 'already started' WWIII after invasion of Ukraine

His remarks come a day ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022

From bakeries to salons, Russian firms struggle under wartime tax policy

Denis Maksimov's bakery in suburban Moscow became famous overnight after he appeared on President Vladimir Putin's annual call-in show in December. Standing in front of the bakery - called Mashenka, after his oldest daughter - he pleaded with Putin via video to look into new tax reforms that are significantly increasing the burden on small businesses like his. "We understand very well that it's not an easy situation for the country. We understand that raising taxes is necessary," Maksimov said. "We're looking ahead without optimism, frankly speaking. Many (businesses) will close down." As Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine marks four years, the mounting pressure on Russia's economy is starting to show. Oil revenues are dwindling, the budget deficit is up, and military spending that fueled robust growth has leveled off. The Kremlin is now tapping consumers and small businesses for funds. The value-added tax has been raised by 2% and revenue thresholds for requiring businesses to

Russia hits Kyiv suburbs with barrage of missiles, drones; 1 killed

Russia attacked Ukraine with a barrage of missiles and drones, killing one person in the Kyiv region, Ukraine's Emergency Service said on Sunday. Another eight people, including one child, were rescued from under the rubble of destroyed buildings, the service said. The attack caused damage and fires to erupt in five districts in the suburbs of Kyiv: Obukhiv, Brovary, Boryspil, Bucha and Fastiv. In the village of Putrivka in the Fastiv district, emergency first responders worked on saving people buried under debris. Russia also struck energy infrastructure in Ukraine's southern Odesa region, resulting in significant fires, which were later extinguished, the emergency service said. During the almost four years since Russia launched an all-out war on its neighbour, and despite a new push over the past year in US-led peace efforts, Ukrainian civilians have endured constant aerial attacks. Russia has ramped up attacks targeting the country's energy grid, leaving Ukrainian civilians with

Russia's FSB says Ukraine can access front-line data via Telegram

Russia's communications watchdog limited access to Telegram - a popular messaging app owned by Russian-born billionaire Pavel Durov - over a week ago for failing to comply with Russian laws

Russia's front-line communications hit by curbs to Starlink, Telegram

The sudden loss of the services has hampered frontline operations, according to complaints on pro-Russian military channels that are corroborated by Ukraine and European diplomats

US-brokered Russia-Ukraine peace talks end with no breakthrough seen

The latest US-brokered talks between envoys from Moscow and Kyiv over Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine ended Wednesday with no sign of a breakthrough and with both sides saying the talks were "difficult," as the war's fourth anniversary approaches next week. The negotiations in Switzerland were the third round of direct talks organised by the US, after meetings earlier this year in Abu Dhabi that officials described as constructive but which also made no major headway. Expectations for significant progress in Geneva were low. "The negotiations were not easy," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after the talks broke up and he spoke briefly by phone from Kyiv with his negotiating team. He earlier accused Russia of "trying to drag out negotiations" while it presses on with its invasion - an accusation he and European leaders have repeatedly made in the past. Despite that, some progress was made on military issues although political differences remain deep, including ove

Ukrainian, Russian envoys hold second day of US-brokered talks in Geneva

Envoys from Moscow and Kyiv met Wednesday in Geneva for a second consecutive day of US-brokered talks, with officials trying to bridge political and military differences stemming from Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine almost four years ago. "Consultations are taking place in working groups by areas within the political and military tracks," the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov, wrote in English on X. "We are working on clarifying the parameters and mechanisms of the decisions discussed yesterday." The negotiations in Switzerland are the third round of direct talks organised by the US, after meetings earlier this year in Abu Dhabi that officials described as constructive but yielded no breakthrough. US President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, said on social media that Washington's push for peace in Ukraine over the past year has "brought about meaningful progress." He didn't elaborate, and the fighting has continued. The two armies are locked in battle on the

Russia launched 29 missiles, 400 drones before Geneva talks, says Ukraine

According to a statement by Zelenskyy, nine people, including children, were injured in the attack

How Putin's war in Ukraine is also hitting Russians harder at home

Ukrainians are enduring one of the coldest winters as waves of Russian attacks have devastated energy infrastructure while Russians in the country's western edge are facing similar hardships now

Zelenskyy thanks US, Germany for air defence support after Munich meet

In Munich, Zelenskyy had unveiled the German-Ukrainian joint venture for producing drones for the Ukrainian Army and said the drone line is 'battle-tested and powered by AI'

Zelenskyy praises support but questions security guarantees for Ukraine

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked his international allies for their support but suggested there was still questions remaining over the future security guarantees for his country. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Saturday, Zelenskyy repeatedly thanked American and European allies for helping Ukraine by providing air defence systems that protect infrastructure like power plants and "save lives". Previous US-led efforts to find consensus on ending the war, most recently two rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, have failed to resolve difficult issues, such as the future of Ukraine's Donbas industrial heartland that is largely occupied by Russian forces. Later with reporters, Zelenskyy questioned how the concept of a free trade zone - proposed by the US - would work in the Donbas region which Russia insists Kyiv must give up in order to get peace. He also said the Americans want peace as quickly as possible and tha

China could end Russia-Ukraine war with one call, says US Nato envoy

China and Russia have forged an even tighter partnership since the start of the war, and Russia relies on China for critical parts and components for drones and other war material

Next round of peace talks on Ukraine is set for next week: Kremlin

Kremlin says next Ukraine peace talks will be held next week, as reports suggest a possible US-proposed trilateral meeting in Miami

Europe rethinks nuclear weapons after Trump delivers reality check

Europe has been fighting to keep hostile US in Nato while countries race to rearm and now for first time since Cold War, European capitals are discussing how to develop their own nuclear deterrent

Russian govt attempts to block Meta's WhatsApp, promotes state-backed app

Initially, authorities slowed down the app, but the latest move is more serious and wide-ranging

Ukraine agrees to host another round of US-mediated talks with Russia

President Donald Trump's envoys are intensifying efforts to end Russia's full-scale invasion against Ukraine as it approaches its fifth year and the question of territories is the key sticking point

Ukraine imposes sanctions on foreign suppliers for Russian missiles

"Producing this weaponry would be impossible without critical foreign components, which the Russians continue to obtain by circumventing sanctions," Zelenskiy said on X

Power cuts, uncertainty hit Ukraine businesses amid Russian attacks

It is pre-dawn in the historic Podil district of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and warm light from the Spelta bakery-bistro's window pierces the darkness outside. On a wooden surface dusted with flour, the baker Oleksandr Kutsenko skilfully divides and shapes soft, damp pieces of dough. As he shoves the first loaves into the oven, a sweet, delicate aroma of fresh bread fills the space. Seconds later, the lights go out, the ovens switch off, and darkness envelops the room. Kutsenko, 31, steps outside into the freezing night, switches on a large rectangular generator, and the power kicks back in. It's a pattern that will be repeated many times as the business struggles to keep working through the power outages caused by Russia's bombing campaign on Ukraine's energy grid. "It's now more than impossible to imagine a Ukrainian business operating without a generator," said Olha Hrynchuk, the co-founder and head baker of Spelta. The cost of purchasing and operating generators to overcome ..

US has asked Ukraine, Russia to reach war deal by June, says Zelenskyy

The US has given Ukraine and Russia a June deadline to reach an agreement to end the nearly four-year war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters. If the June deadline is not met, the Trump administration will likely put pressure on both sides to meet it, he added. "The Americans are proposing the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer and will probably put pressure on the parties precisely according to this schedule," Zelenskyy said, speaking to reporters on Friday. Zelenskyy's comments were embargoed until Saturday morning. "And they say that they want to do everything by June. And they will do everything to end the war. And they want a clear schedule of all events," he said.