Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced he will not travel to Turkey to take part in talks between Russia and Ukraine on Thursday, despite pleas from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to attend.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not travel to Turkey for peace talks on the war in Ukraine, despite calls from Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky for him to attend.Russia's delegation at Thursday's talks in Istanbul will instead be headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinksy,

The promise of direct talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul has derailed European efforts to get the United States on board with imposing new sanctions on Russia if there is not an immediate 30-day ceasefire.

For days, President Donald Trump repeatedly floated the possibility of scrapping his Middle East travel schedule — one his team meticulously crafted for weeks — and adding a stop to personally mediate Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Turkey.

June 15, 2024: Representatives of 92 nations meet in Nidwalden, Switzerland, to discuss Ukraine’s peace plan. Despite the growing number of delegates, a consensus remains elusive. The summit’s final statement is backed by most – although not all – participants.

Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is willing to travel to Turkey for the talks - even if Vladimir Putin does not turn up.

Ukraine's air force says Russia launched more than 100 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine in nighttime attacks.

The Kremlin brushed off the threat of further sanctions, saying that “the language of ultimatums is unacceptable.”