Ukraine says it struck five ships carrying illegal cargo in the Sea of Azov and in coastal waters of Russian-occupied territories.

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday (Jun 5) ruled out meeting his Ukrainian counterpart any time soon, a day after Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a sit-down between the leaders to e

The Russian president's refusal comes after his Ukrainian counterpart wrote an open letter calling for face-to-face talks.

The Kremlin said Russian leader Vladimir Putin had not yet seen the letter, but added that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could meet him in Moscow "any time".

MOSCOW, June 5 - Russian President Vladimir Putin has been informed about an open letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Izvestia news outlet on Friday. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an effort to end the war between the two countries. In an open letter published while...

Ukraine's president proposed face-to-face talks to agree an end to the war in an open letter. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Speaking at the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin said a meeting with Zelensky would serve little purpose at this stage and suggested that negotiations should first be advanced by experts working on possible solutions.

“They should get it done,” US president Donald Trump said.

Russia fired hundreds of drones at Ukraine between late Thursday and early Friday, killing seven people and destroying a factory that produces milk products for children, authorities said. Moscow and Kyiv have intensified drone strikes on each other in recent months as US-led diplomatic efforts to end the war, now in its fifth year, remain stalled over the conflict in the Middle East. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a meeting with Vladimir Putin in an open letter to the Russian leader late Thursday, saying it was only the leaders who could resolve "key issues".

Ukraine says it struck five ships carrying illegal cargo in the Sea of Azov and in coastal waters of Russian-occupied territories.

President Vladimir Putin stuck to his hardline stance on the war in Ukraine on Thursday and said his troops were advancing on the battlefield every day, but he also said that U.S. President Donald Trump's proposals for peace could end the fighting if Kyiv ‌was ready to compromise. He made…

<p>Peskov confirmed this in an interview with Izvestia on the sidelines of the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). According to Peskov, Putin was also informed about the different reactions of world leaders to the open letter.</p>