The announcement appears to preclude any kind of top-level meeting or breakthrough ahead of the 50-day deadline for an agreement given by President Donald Trump.

Ukraine, Russia hold third round of peace talks in Istanbul * Ukrainian drones reportedly target key logistics hub in southwestern Russia * Russia suffered 80,000 casualties during Kursk incursion, Ukraine's military chief says * 'He sees Trump as emotional and susceptible to influence' — Putin not worried about 50-day ceasefire deadline,

Ukraine on Wednesday proposed direct talks within weeks between its President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia's Vladimir Putin, but Moscow tempered prospects for progress at a fresh round of talks in Istanbul on Wednesday.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on July 24 urged China to leverage its close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin to help advance peace talks with Ukraine. "China has an influence on Russia,

Kyiv and Moscow will hold a new round of peace talks — the first in seven weeks — on Wednesday in Turkey, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov is in Istanbul to meet with his Russian counterparts to discuss the war and hash out the terms for another prisoner of war exchange,