Russia and Ukraine have traded drone attacks hours after a brief ceasefire talks concluded in Istanbul, leaving two people dead in Russia and three in Ukraine. The Ukrainian delegation met with Russian officials on Wednesday evening but failed to make progress, with both sides accusing each other of rejecting their ideas.
The talks were the third round of ceasefire discussions, which were requested by US President Donald Trump. However, no tangible steps were taken to end the conflict, now in its fourth year. Russia has refused to budge on its preconditions for peace, including Ukraine becoming a neutral state and reducing its military capabilities.
In the latest escalation, multiple drone strikes hit various locations in both countries, including the Black Sea port city of Odesa and Russian cities such as Sochi and Cherkasy. Several people were injured or killed in these attacks, with one person found dead in the rubble of a house in Ukraine’s eastern Kharkiv region.
Despite the failure to reach an agreement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to continue diplomatic efforts to end the war. “We will do everything to make diplomacy work,” he said on social media. However, Russia’s actions suggest that it is not willing to compromise on its demands for Ukraine’s neutrality and reduced military capabilities.
The conflict in Ukraine has been ongoing since Russia’s invasion in 2022, with Western allies supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The US has set a deadline of 50 days for Russia and Ukraine to reach a peace deal, threatening “severe tariffs” on Moscow if no agreement is reached.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crene7d5w2jo