Ukraine proposes renewed peace talks - as Zelenskyy urges Russia to 'stop avoiding decisions'

The Ukrainian president said his government was working to implement the agreements reached during the last set of talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul.

That was the second round of peace talks between representatives of Russia and Ukraine in just over two weeks.

Mr Zelenskyy said negotiations with Russia on the prisoners of war swaps, agreed at the most recent talks, were ongoing.

But despite the agreement, no progress has so far been made towards ending the war, according to officials.

On Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to move toward a peace settlement for Ukraine but Moscow's main objective is to achieve its goals.

"President Putin has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible. This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy," Mr Peskov told state television reporter Pavel Zarubin.

"The main thing for us is to achieve our goals. Our goals are clear," he added.

It comes as Russia's defence ministry and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 142 drones had been downed overnight, including 27 over the Moscow region

According to Russia's aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia, four major airports serving Moscow - Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovskiy - were affected, resulting in 134 flights being redirected.

Russia's defence ministry had earlier said it had shot down 71 Ukrainian drones overnight into Saturday, with Moscow's mayor saying 13 drones were downed as they approached the Russian capital.

Meanwhile targeting Ukraine, Russia launched a significant drone and missile attack overnight, killing one person, and injuring six others, in the port city of Odesa.

President Zelenskyy said in a post on X that Russia had fired more than 300 drones and over 30 cruise missiles as part of the attack.

The latest round of long-range attacks comes after Russia unleashed more than 700 drones on 8 July - a new record.

Its stepped-up bombing campaign has dashed hopes for a breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to bring the war to an end, after more than three years of fighting.

Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine's delegation, has suggested holding the third round of direct peace talks next week, according to President Zelenskyy.

"The negotiation dynamics need to be intensified. We must do everything possible to achieve a ceasefire," Mr Zelenskyy said.

"The Russian side must stop avoiding decisions... A meeting at the leaders' level is needed to secure a lasting peace truly. Ukraine is ready for such a meeting."

-SKY NEWS