Ukraine Insists Truce Must Come Before Peace Talks

“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Vladimir Putin to implement a full cease-fire starting Monday in order to facilitate talks on an end to the war, countering the Russian president’s offer that said talks should come first,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Putin a day earlier rebuffed the latest cease-fire ultimatum from Kyiv and its Western allies, instead calling for direct talks aimed at achieving his goal of weakening Ukraine and pushing back NATO.”

“European leaders had threatened new sanctions on Russia if it didn’t sign up to an unconditional 30-day pause in fighting backed by President Trump.”