Peace negotiations in the Russian invasion of Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Tuesday that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had agreed to back a high-level peace conference for Ukraine in Switzerland in June, taking place without Russia.

Moscow and Kyiv have been negotiating with Turkey for months on an agreement to ensure maritime security in the Black Sea, according to sources

The Kremlin has proposed resurrecting the abandoned 2022 peace deal between Russia and Ukraine as a basis for new negotiations. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated that there has been no indication from Kyiv signaling readiness for such talks.

Russia perceives Pope Francis' recent call for talks with Moscow to end the conflict in Ukraine as a subtle message directed towards Ukraine's Western allies, urging them to relinquish their aspirations to defeat Russia and acknowledge the West's role in the Ukrainian war, according to Italy's ANSA news agency.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rebuffed Pope Francis' recent call for talks with Russia, dismissing it as "virtual mediation" from afar.

Turkey is expected to emphasise its continued strong support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Istanbul on Friday, a Turkish diplomatic source said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Turkey on Friday and Saturday, his spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, as the two countries prepare a visit to Turkey by President Vladimir Putin.

Lavrov will attend a forum and hold talks with his Turkish counterpart, Zakharova said.

Day 680 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

Day 659 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

President Vladimir Putin voiced renewed confidence yesterday in Russia's offensive in Ukraine, as he staged a marathon press conference a week after announcing plans to stay in the Kremlin until at least 2030.