Zelensky calls for Putin talks as peace efforts stall
Summary
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to advance peace efforts amid ongoing conflict and recent drone strikes. Ukraine marked its Independence Day amid continued fighting and prisoner exchanges.
Key Points
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a bilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin as the most effective way to advance peace talks.
- Ukraine conducted drone strikes in Russia, including near the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, with no casualties reported.
- Russia claimed advances in the eastern Donetsk region, while Ukraine recaptured some villages in the area.
- Both Ukraine and Russia conducted prisoner exchanges, returning 146 prisoners and civilians each, as a rare cooperation gesture amid the war.
