Russia and Ukraine are set to hold their first direct peace talks in three years, but hopes for a breakthrough remained dim after Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned an offer by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet face-to-face in Turkey.

Ukraine wants to organize a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This will be the next step in negotiations with Russia, says Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.