Moscow has hit back at Europe's 30-day ceasefire ultimatum as “unacceptable” and “unsuitable” following Western threats of sanctions.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said it was wrong to “use such language with Russia” as Europe’s deadline for Russia to agree to a truce with Ukraine got closer.
European countries, with the backing of US president Donald Trump, have told Vladimir Putin to agree to the ceasefire by Monday or face more sanctions.
On Monday, a German government spokesperson said: “The clock is ticking, we still have 12 hours until the end of the day, and if the ceasefire is not in place by then, the European side will [set in motion] preparations for sanctions.”
Mr Peskov hit back, saying: “The language of ultimatums is unacceptable for Russia, it is not suitable. You can't use such language with Russia.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he would be “waiting for Putin, personally” in Istanbul, Turkey, after the Russian leader proposed direct talks there on Thursday to settle the war.
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Key Points
- Russia slams Europe ceasefire ultimatum as 'unacceptable'
- Zelensky says he spoke to new Pope Leo about children abducted by Russia
- Zelensky challenges Putin to meet in Istanbul for peace talks
- Russia launches 108 drones overnight after Ukraine demands ceasefire
- Lammy says Putin must ‘get serious’ about engaging in peace talks
- Starmer calls on Putin to accept 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine
Russia ignoring ceasefire ultimatum in 'strange silence'
20:01
,
Alexander Butler
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that Russia was continuing its attacks on Ukraine and had made no response to a proposal for direct talks in Turkey this week in a "strange silence."
"Russian shelling and assaults continue," Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
"Moscow has remained silent all day regarding the proposal for a direct meeting. A very strange silence."
Zelenskuy repeated that US President Donald Trump supported the proposed meeting "and we would like him to find the opportunity to be in Turkey."
Watch: 'Empty talk of no consequence': Ukrainians distrustful of Putin’s motives behind talks with Kyiv
20:00
,
Alexander Butler
Putin risks overplaying his hand with Trump over peace conditions, former Trump advisor says
19:00
,
Alexander Butler
John Bolton, a former Trump national security adviser, said Russian president Vladimir Putin risks "overplaying his hand" during the negotiations to establish peace with Ukraine.
"As this war drags on, I think his position does get weaker," The Hill reported Mr Bolton as saying.
"The real question is whether, between the efforts of the United States, the efforts of Europe to get a Ukraine-Russia ceasefire, it's going to happen."
"Putin has already gotten a lot of concessions for what he wants. He wants to hold on to the territory Russia's seized in Ukraine,” Mr Bolton said.
Kremlin says Moscow will ‘continue’ invasion while blaming Ukraine for not being ‘ready’ for peace
18:00
,
Alexander Butler
A Kremlin spokesperson said in a new interview that Ukraine is to blame for a failure to make progress in peace talks and vowed that the Russian offensive would “continue” – despite Kyiv’s support for a US-backed deal.
With their respective nations still yet to reach a formal ceasefire, Ukraine and Russia’s ambassadors appeared for dueling interviews Sunday on ABC News.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for Vladimir Putin, spoke to ABC’s Martha Raddatz in Moscow.
“Ukraine is trying to escape from negotiations,” he claimed. Mr Raddatz interjected: “Ukraine says they’re ready for a ceasefire right now, a 30 days ceasefire.”
Will Zelensky empty-chair Putin in Turkey after calling his bluff on peace talks?
17:00
,
Bel Trew
Volodymyr Zelensky has thrown down the gauntlet – and is calling Vladimir Putin’s bluff – by announcing he will indeed be in Turkey on Thursday for direct talks on a ceasefire.
Over the weekend, Putin effectively rejected the Ukrainian president’s call for 30-day unconditional truce, which is backed by Sir Keir Starmer, the leaders of France, Germany and Poland (who were all in Ukraine) as well as members of the 31-country “coalition of the willing”.
The month-long break from fighting was designed, Zelensky said, as the “foundation for diplomacy” to allow talks for a longer deal. It was supposed to be a continuation of a three-day temporary truce that Putin had initially called, but which expired on Sunday.
Instead of pausing fighting, Putin called for direct peace talks to be held on 15 May in Istanbul, brokered by his frenemy, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
We can only assume Putin expected his spanner-in-the-works-suggestion to be rejected by Zelensky. But the Ukrainian leader stepped up to the challenge.
'Clock is ticking' for Putin to accept ceasefire, says Germany
16:26
,
Alexander Butler
European countries will start preparing new sanctions on Russia unless the Kremlin by the end of Monday starts abiding by a 30-day ceasefire in its war with Ukraine, Germany's government said.
Ukraine's military said Russia had conducted dozens of attacks along the front in eastern Ukraine on Monday as well as an overnight assault using more than 100 drones, despite the ceasefire proposal by Europe and Kyiv.
"The clock is ticking," a German government spokesperson said at a news conference in Berlin.
"We still have 12 hours until the end of the day, and if the ceasefire is not in place by then, the European side will (set in motion) preparations for sanctions," the spokesperson said.
Possibility of US joining Turkey talks, says Trump
15:53
,
Alexander Butler
Donald Trump says he believes Russia and Ukraine will have a “good meeting” on Thursday.
“I think you may have a good result out of the Thursday meeting in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine, and I believe the two leaders were going to be there,” he said.
“I was thinking about flying over. I don't know where I'm going to be on Thursday. I've got so many meetings but was thinking about actually flying over there.
“There's a possibility of it, I guess, if I think things can happen. But we’ve got to get it done.”
Putin says ‘no’ to a ceasefire, but ‘yes’ to talks with Zelensky – what is he up to?
15:28
,
Alexander Butler
Russia slams Europe ceasefire ultimatum as 'unacceptable'
14:48
,
Alexander Butler
The European proposal for a 30-day ceasefire is an “unacceptable” ultimatum, the Kremlin said.
Europe, with the backing of US president Donald Trump, proposed a 30-day ceasefire beginning on Monday.
The European countries, including the UK, threatened Vladimir Putin with further sanctions if he failed to agree.
“The language of ultimatums is unacceptable for Russia, it is not suitable. You can't use such language with Russia," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Kremlin says Putin is serious about Ukraine peace talks but says no more
14:46
,
Alexander Butler
Russian President Vladimir Putin was serious about trying to find peace at talks he has proposed in Turkey, the Kremlin said.
His spokesperson said he could say no more about the talks after Ukraine demanded the Kremlin chief attend.
Mr Putin on Sunday proposed direct talks with Ukraine aimed at ending the war, and, after US President Donald Trump publicly told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept, Zelensky said he would and urged Putin to attend in person.
Warsaw fire accusations baseless, Kremlin claims
14:38
,
Angus Thompson
The Kremlin has fired back against Poland’s claim Russia was behind a fire that destroyed a shopping centre in Warsaw last year.
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said Monday that he was ordering the closure of Russia's consulate in the southern city of Krakow in response to the blaze.
“The Russian consulate will have to leave. And if these attacks continue, we'll take further action,” Mr Sikorski said.
Speaking with journalists on Monday, Kremlin spokesman DmitryPeskov described the accusations as being groundless and rooted in anti-Russian sentiment.
He also said that Warsaw's decision to close the consulate would damage bilateral relations between Russia and Poland, which Peskov described as already being in "a deplorable state."
Will Zelensky empty-chair Putin in Turkey after calling his bluff on peace talks?
13:51
,
Bel Trew
Volodymyr Zelensky has thrown down the gauntlet – and is calling Vladimir Putin’s bluff – by announcing he will indeed be in Turkey on Thursday for direct talks on a ceasefire.
Over the weekend, Putin effectively rejected the Ukrainian president’s call for 30-day unconditional truce, which is backed by Sir Keir Starmer, the leaders of France, Germany and Poland (who were all in Ukraine) as well as members of the 31-country “coalition of the willing”.
The month-long break from fighting was designed, Zelensky said, as the “foundation for diplomacy” to allow talks for a longer deal. It was supposed to be a continuation of a three-day temporary truce that Putin had initially called, but which expired on Sunday.
Instead of pausing fighting, Putin called for direct peace talks to be held on 15 May in Istanbul, brokered by his frenemy, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
We can only assume Putin expected his spanner-in-the-works-suggestion to be rejected by Zelensky. But the Ukrainian leader stepped up to the challenge.
Kremlin says Moscow will ‘continue’ invasion while blaming Ukraine for not being ‘ready’ for peace
13:30
,
Arpan Rai
A Kremlin spokesperson said in a new interview that Ukraine is to blame for a failure to make progress in peace talks and vowed that the Russian offensive would “continue” – despite Kyiv’s support for a US-backed deal.
With their respective nations still yet to reach a formal ceasefire, Ukraine and Russia’s ambassadors appeared for dueling interviews Sunday on ABC News.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for Vladimir Putin, spoke to ABC’s Martha Raddatz in Moscow.
“Ukraine is trying to escape from negotiations,” he claimed. Mr Raddatz interjected: “Ukraine says they’re ready for a ceasefire right now, a 30 days ceasefire.”
Putin risks overplaying his hand with Trump over peace conditions, his former Trump advisor says
13:15
,
Arpan Rai
John Bolton, a former Trump national security adviser, said Russian president Vladimir Putin risks "overplaying his hand" during the negotiations to establish peace with Ukraine.
"As this war drags on, I think his position does get weaker," The Hill reported Mr Bolton as saying.
"The real question is whether, between the efforts of the United States, the efforts of Europe to get a Ukraine-Russia ceasefire, it's going to happen."
"Putin has already gotten a lot of concessions for what he wants. He wants to hold on to the territory Russia's seized in Ukraine,” Mr Bolton said.
Zelensky challenges Putin to meet this week after pressure from Trump
13:00
,
Arpan Rai
Starmer calls on Putin to accept 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine
12:45
,
Arpan Rai
Sir Keir Starmer has called on Russian president Vladimir Putin to accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine starting on 12 May.
The announcement was made on Saturday alongside leaders of France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine after a meeting in Kyiv, following a phone call with Donald Trump.
"All of us here, together with the US, are calling Putin out. If he is serious about peace, then he has a chance to show it," Sir Keir told reporters at a news conference.
He added: “If Putin turns his back on peace, we will respond. We will ramp up sanctions and increase military support for Ukraine to pressure Russia back to the table.”
Australian bomb disposal aid worker killed in Ukraine
12:30
,
Arpan Rai
An Australian man has been killed in Ukraine, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese confirmed today, with media reporting the victim was a former Australian soldier working for a charity which helps clear landmines.
The man and his British colleague died last week near the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum from injuries suffered when an improved explosive device went off in a building, the Australian Broadcasting Corp said in a report, citing an unidentified military source in Ukraine. Details had yet to be formally verified, the ABC added.
Mr Albanese said the foreign affairs department was providing support for the man's family, but did not provide any specifics.
Europeans to prep sanctions if Ukraine ceasefire not in place by end of today
12:13
,
Arpan Rai
European nations will start preparing additional sanctions against Russia if a ceasefire is not in place in Ukraine by the end of Monday, a German government spokesperson said at a regular news conference.
"The clock is ticking, we still have 12 hours until the end of the day, and if the ceasefire is not in place by then, the European side will (set in motion) preparations for sanctions," the spokesperson said today.
Russia launched dozens of assaults on Ukraine today during proposed ceasefire
12:12
,
Arpan Rai
Russian troops have conducted dozens of assaults on the eastern front line in Ukraine today after the start of a 30-day ceasefire proposed by Kyiv and its European allies, a Ukrainian military spokesperson said.
The intensity of the fighting was at the normal level, Viktor Trehubov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's eastern front, told Reuters.
Yesterday, European leaders joined Volodymyr Zelensky in demanding a 30-day ceasefire from today, only for Mr Putin to make a counter-proposal to instead hold the first direct Ukraine-Russia talks since the early months of the 2022 invasion.
Mr Putin and Mr Zelensky have not met since December 2019 and make no secret of their contempt for each other.
Zelensky challenges Putin to meet 'personally' in Turkey this week. Here's his message in full:
11:52
,
Arpan Rai
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has cracked down on the rising claims from Moscow to engage in peace talks and directly initiated an offer to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
The Russian president made a counter-proposal to instead hold the first direct Ukraine-Russia talks since the early months of the 2022 invasion after European leaders joined Mr Zelensky’s pitch of demanding a 30-day ceasefire from Russia.
Here’s what the Ukrainian war-time president said last night, throwing the gauntlet to Mr Putin:
“Starting tomorrow, we await a ceasefire — this proposal is on the table. A full and unconditional ceasefire, one that lasts long enough to provide a necessary foundation for diplomacy, could significantly bring peace closer. Ukraine has long proposed this, our partners are proposing it, and the whole world is calling for it. We await a clear response from Russia.
“Russia will have to end this war anyway. The killings must stop. Ukrainian forces will be ready to respond symmetrically— to ensure fairness. We have repeatedly heard from our partners that they are prepared to strengthen sanctions against Russia if Putin rejects a ceasefire. Time will tell.
“Here in Ukraine, we have absolutely no problem engaging in negotiations, we are ready for any format. I will be in Türkiye this Thursday, May 15, and I expect Putin to come to Türkiye as well. Personally. And I hope that this time, Putin won’t be looking for excuses as to why he “can’t” make it.
“We are ready to talk, to end this war. Thursday. Türkiye. President Trump has expressed support. All the leaders support this.”
Zelensky says he spoke to new Pope Leo about children abducted by Russia
11:25
,
Arpan Rai
Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky said he held a phone call with newly elected Pope Leo XIV today and said they discussed Ukrainian children abducted by Russia and a proposal from allies for a 30-day ceasefire which Moscow has so far not accepted.
“We also discussed the thousands of Ukrainian children deported by Russia. Ukraine counts on the Vatican’s assistance in bringing them home to their families,” Mr Zelensky said today.
The Ukrainian president said that his first conversation with the new pontiff was "very warm and truly substantive".
Mr Zelensky said he has invited the pope to visit Ukraine.
“I invited His Holiness to make an apostolic visit to Ukraine. Such a visit would bring real hope to all believers and to all our people. We agreed to stay in contact and plan in-person meeting in the near future,” he said.
I spoke with Pope Leo XIV. It was our first conversation, but already a very warm and truly substantive one.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 12, 2025
I thanked His Holiness for his support of Ukraine and all our people. We deeply value his words about the need to achieve a just and lasting peace for our country and the… pic.twitter.com/4ocbA7jnMK
Zelensky agrees to Putin's Istanbul peace talks
11:15
,
Arpan Rai
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will “waiting for Putin” in Istanbul after the Russian leader proposed direct talks to end the war.
“I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally,” Mr Zelensky said.
“I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses.”
Mr Zelensky also said he was awaiting a “full and lasting ceasefire” to lay the groundwork for diplomacy.
We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 11, 2025
Trump 'starting to doubt' that Ukraine will reach deal with Russia
11:05
,
Arpan Rai
Donald Trump has said he was "starting to doubt" that Ukraine will reach a ceasefire deal with Russia, and he urged Ukraine to meet with Russian officials in Turkey on Thursday to negotiate.
"I'm starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin," Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social. "President Putin of Russia doesn't want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH."
Mr Trump said that meeting would mean the two parties as well as European leaders and the US would then be "able to determine whether or not a deal is possible."
The US president said that meeting would mean the two parties as well as European leaders and the US would then be "able to determine whether or not a deal is possible”.
Kremlin says Moscow will ‘continue’ invasion while blaming Ukraine for not being ‘ready’ for peace
10:55
,
Arpan Rai
A Kremlin spokesperson said in a new interview that Ukraine is to blame for a failure to make progress in peace talks and vowed that the Russian offensive would “continue” – despite Kyiv’s support for a US-backed deal.
With their respective nations still yet to reach a formal ceasefire, Ukraine and Russia’s ambassadors appeared for dueling interviews Sunday on ABC News.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for Vladimir Putin, spoke to ABC’s Martha Raddatz in Moscow.
“Ukraine is trying to escape from negotiations,” he claimed. Mr Raddatz interjected: “Ukraine says they’re ready for a ceasefire right now, a 30 days ceasefire.”
Putin risks overplaying his hand with Trump over peace conditions, his former Trump advisor says
10:40
,
Arpan Rai
John Bolton, a former Trump national security adviser, said Russian president Vladimir Putin risks "overplaying his hand" during the negotiations to establish peace with Ukraine.
"As this war drags on, I think his position does get weaker," The Hill reported Mr Bolton as saying.
"The real question is whether, between the efforts of the United States, the efforts of Europe to get a Ukraine-Russia ceasefire, it's going to happen."
"Putin has already gotten a lot of concessions for what he wants. He wants to hold on to the territory Russia's seized in Ukraine,” Mr Bolton said.
But he added that time is running out. "I think at this point, he may be at risk of overplaying his hand with Trump."
Russian drone attack on Ukraine freight train injures driver
10:30
,
Arpan Rai
A Russian drone attack on Ukraine's railway infrastructure in the Donetsk region injured a locomotive driver of a civilian freight train, Ukrainian Railways said this morning.
"Truce proposals are being ignored, hostile attacks on railway infrastructure ... continue," Ukrainian Railways, Ukrzaliznytsia said on its Telegram channel.
The attack just a day after European leaders joined president Volodymyr Zelensky in demanding a 30-day ceasefire starting today.
Australian bomb disposal aid worker killed in Ukraine
10:15
,
Arpan Rai
An Australian man has been killed in Ukraine, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese confirmed today, with media reporting the victim was a former Australian soldier working for a charity which helps clear landmines.
The man and his British colleague died last week near the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum from injuries suffered when an improved explosive device went off in a building, the Australian Broadcasting Corp said in a report, citing an unidentified military source in Ukraine. Details had yet to be formally verified, the ABC added.
Mr Albanese said the foreign affairs department was providing support for the man's family, but did not provide any specifics.
"Out of respect for the family's privacy and consistent with our obligations, there is a limit to what we can say publicly at this time," he told reporters.
UK to host EU foreign ministers on defence and Ukraine before summit
10:00
,
Arpan Rai
Russia fired Iskander-M at Ukrainian forces
09:51
,
Arpan Rai
Russia fired an Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile at Ukrainian forces who had previously used a HIMARS missile system to attack Russia's Kursk region, the Russian defence ministry was quoted by RIA as saying today.
Kursk region governor Alexander Khinshtein said yesterday that three people were injured in a Ukrainian missile strike on a hotel building in the town of Rylsk.
ICYMI: Zelensky agrees to Putin-proposed meeting in Turkey
09:41
,
Arpan Rai
Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will be waiting for Vladimir Putin in Turkey on Thursday after Donald Trump insisted Ukraine agreed to talks with Russia.
The US president demanded that Ukrainian officials “immediately” agree to meet with their Russian counterparts to negotiate a possible end to the “bloodbath” war waged on the country by Russia.
Mr Trump was responding to the Russian leader’s proposal on Sunday for a meeting this coming week in Istanbul.
In a post on Truth Social, the president wrote: “President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH.”
Lammy says Putin must ‘get serious’ about engaging in peace talks
09:32
,
Arpan Rai
Foreign secretary David Lammy has urged the Russian president Vladimir Putin to step up for peace talks and ceasefire with Ukraine.
“This is the time for Vladimir Putin to get serious about peace in Europe, to get serious about a ceasefire, and to get serious about talks,” he said ahead of his meeting with European counterparts today.
Mr Lammy said Europe’s leaders are “prepared if this is not the moment of seriousness from Putin”.
The foreign secretary is hosting his counterparts from France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland and the EU for a meeting at Lancaster House today after a weekend of diplomacy for Ukraine.
Mr Lammy has also commended Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky for his “willingness to engage in talks” as European foreign ministers gathered in London for discussions about the continent’s security.
Poland to shut Russian consulate after arson attack
09:10
,
Arpan Rai
Poland will close the Russian consulate in Krakow after finding evidence that Moscow was responsible for a massive fire that almost completely destroyed a Warsaw shopping centre in May 2024, the Polish foreign minister said today.
Poland knew "for sure" that Russian secret services were behind the huge fire on Marywilska Street in the capital, the country’s prime minister Donald Tusk said yesterday.
"Due to evidence that the Russian special services committed a reprehensible act of sabotage against the shopping center on Marywilska Street, I have decided to withdraw my consent to the operation of the Consulate of the Russian Federation in Krakow," foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski wrote on X.
The Russian foreign ministry said Poland was cutting its ties with Moscow on purpose, state news agency RIA reported.
"Warsaw continues to deliberately destroy relations, acting against the interests of its citizens," state news agency RIA quoted Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova as saying. She added that Russia would soon deliver an "adequate response".
Watch: Ukrainians distrustful of Putin’s motives behind talks with Kyiv
08:52
,
Arpan Rai
Trained on Xbox, these Gen Z gamers are fighting for real in Ukraine’s war against Russia
08:51
,
Arpan Rai
On a mild spring evening, deep in eastern Ukraine, Shawn McVey – call sign “Goldfish” – peers into a gully where controlled chaos is unfolding. “If you’re too busy killing, you don’t have time to die,” he bellows across the smoke-filled twilight.
Explosions punctuate the dusk, casting brief, searing flashes over a network of trenches carved deep into Ukrainian soil. Helmets bob through the haze; figures crawl and scramble under fire, their shouts blending with the staccato of simulated gunfire.
“Your job isn’t to die for Ukraine – it’s to make sure they die for Russia,” roars Brad, call sign ‘Cossack’, a grizzled 20-year veteran of the US 82nd Airborne and the camp’s head instructor.
Volunteers from the UK and the US tend to have a lot of Xbox experience, course co-ordinator Oleg Grabovyy tells Harry Stourton: ‘The best drone pilot I ever met was a relentless gamer’
Starmer calls on Putin to accept 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine
08:44
,
Arpan Rai
Sir Keir Starmer has called on Russian president Vladimir Putin to accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine starting on 12 May.
The announcement was made on Saturday alongside leaders of France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine after a meeting in Kyiv, following a phone call with Donald Trump.
"All of us here, together with the US, are calling Putin out. If he is serious about peace, then he has a chance to show it," Sir Keir told reporters at a news conference.
He added: “If Putin turns his back on peace, we will respond. We will ramp up sanctions and increase military support for Ukraine to pressure Russia back to the table.”
Zelensky challenges Putin to meet this week after pressure from Trump
08:04
,
Arpan Rai
Russia launches 108 drones overnight after Ukraine demands ceasefire
07:56
,
Arpan Rai
Russia launched at least 108 drones across Ukraine overnight and struck a civilian freight train, injuring its driver, Ukrainian authorities said this morning.
The swarm of Russian drone attacks comes just hours after European leaders joined president Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky in demanding a 30-day ceasefire starting today.
Overnight, Ukraine’s air force said its air defences destroyed 55 of the drones that Russia launched from 11pm on Sunday (2000 GMT).
The attack included also 30 simulator drones that were lost along the way without hitting anything. Drones were shot down in the east, north, south and central parts of Ukraine, the air force said.
Russian president Vladimir Putin called demands for ceasefire "ultimatums" and in turn, proposed direct talks with Ukraine aimed at ending the war in Thursday, an initiative embraced by Donald Trump.
