Talks in Turkey Aim to Address Ukraine-Russia Conflict Amid Ongoing Strikes

As international attention remains focused on the ongoing conflict, talks aimed at establishing peace between Ukraine and Russia are set to take place in Turkey on Wednesday, as reported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. This meeting will be the first between the two nations in a span of seven weeks. The Kremlin has expressed readiness to discuss the timing of the negotiations but indicated that significant differences in both sides' approaches to resolving the war persist, noting they are "diametrically opposed." President Putin is facing mounting pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to demonstrate tangible progress in peace efforts. In a previous instance, he rejected an invitation from Zelenskiy for a face-to-face meeting, contributing to ongoing frustrations regarding diplomatic engagements. Over three years into Russia's comprehensive invasion of Ukraine, the conflict shows little sign of de-escalation. Recently, reports indicated that Ukrainian cities were struck by an intense barrage of missiles and drones, resulting in two fatalities and injuring fifteen others, according to President Zelenskiy. Witnesses described a terrifying night as explosions illuminated the skyline of Kyiv, with the distinct sound of drones persisting throughout the area. The Ukrainian air force reported that more than 400 drones and 24 missiles were launched, of which 23 drones successfully struck their intended targets across the country. In a dramatic turn, Russian media coverage stated that Ukrainian forces executed drone attacks that disrupted operations at Moscow’s airports on the same day, leading to a chaotic scene where thousands of travelers were left waiting or sleeping on the floor due to numerous canceled flights. In response, Russia's defense ministry claimed to have intercepted over 100 Ukrainian drones during the night, with a significant number—30—reported downed over the Moscow region.