Russia and Ukraine also agreed to "develop measures to implement the agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities in Russia and Ukraine," the White House said.

Russia's Defense Ministry announced that 175 Russian soldiers had been returned from Ukrainian-controlled territory following negotiations. Additionally, Moscow handed over 175 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs), along with 22 severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers as a “gesture of goodwill.”

Europe is seeking to retain its leverage as President Donald Trump moves to strike a deal with Russia to stop the war in Ukraine. But some of Russia’s key demands — including sanctions relief and the end of military aid to Ukraine — require European buy-in.

At a recent summit featuring leaders of 30 countries as well as European Union and NATO chiefs, French President Emmanuel Macron offered reassurances that France and Britain will continue to forge ahead with plans to deploy troops in Ukraine to secure an eventual peace deal with Russia despite other nations not wanting to take part.

ALEXANDER VINDMAN, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, is Director of the Institute for Informed American Leadership at the Vet Voice Foundation. From 2018 to 2020, he was Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council. He is the author of The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine.

The two countries agree to ensure safe navigation of ships and eliminate the use of force in the Black Sea, the US says after talks in Riyadh.

Cross-border drone attacks killed civilians in both Ukraine and Russia overnight into Sunday, according to local officials.

Reports come as Russian president agreed to temporarily halt attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities during phone call with US counterpart - Anadolu Ajansı

After separate talks with Ukrainian and Russian negotiators over three days in Saudi Arabia, the United States announced agreements with Kyiv and Moscow to stop attacks in the Black Sea and implement a halt to strikes on energy facilities,

North Korea appears to have sent at least 3,000 more soldiers to Russia early this year, South Korea’s military said Thursday, demonstrating Pyongyang’s continued support for Moscow’s war on Ukraine as world leaders push for an end to the three-year conflict.