Last month was the deadliest since Putin launched his full-scale war on Ukraine three and a half years ago. In July alone, 286 civilians were killed and another 1,388, according to official data.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he hoped Vladimir Putin was going to "be good" and move forward toward ending the war in Ukraine, but conceded it was possible the Russian president doesn't want to make a deal.

Vladimir Putin is still demanding that Ukraine withdraw from the entire Donbas region despite Volodymyr Zelensky refusing to give up Ukrainian-held territory, sources close to the Kremlin have said.

Melania Trump took the unique step of crafting a letter calling for peace in Ukraine, having her husband Donald Trump deliver it to Vladimir Putin.

Trump says Kyiv needs to ‘fight back’ after Putin launches massive serial assault - Zelensky hits out at ‘outrageous’ overnight attack involving 574 drones and 40 missiles

Ukraine’s Donbas region, consisting of Donetsk and Luhansk, is at the heart of Moscow’s goals. An industrial powerhouse in the Soviet era, it also has rich farmland, important rivers and a coastline on the Sea of Azov.

The high-stakes bilateral meeting concluded Friday ahead of schedule amid aims at advancing a potential ceasefire agreement in the war in Ukraine.

Russia’s foreign minister has cast fresh doubt on peace talks, questioning “the legitimacy” of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to sign any future agreements after targetting a US factory in a large bombardment on Ukraine.