Trump said his latest call with Putin wouldn't lead to "immediate peace" as he relayed the Russian leader's plans to retaliate against Ukraine.

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice issued a stark warning on Russian President Vladimir Putin's behavioral shift, arguing he is 'desperate' to 'extinguish' Ukraine.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Vladimir Putin intends to retaliate “very strongly” against Ukraine for a surprise drone strike on Russian airfields over the weekend, a declaration that provoked alarm in Washington and abroad even as Trump touted his efforts to bring peace to the region.

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky rejected Russian terms to end the war, while Vladimir Putin dismissed any meetings with what he called a terrorist regime.

"It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace," President Trump posted on social media.

By Guy Faulconbridge, Vladimir Soldatkin and Dmitry Antonov MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he did not think Ukraine's leaders wanted peace after accusing them of ordering a deadly bomb attack in Russia that killed seven and injured 115 more just a day before talks in Turkey.

At least five people, including a one-year-old child, were killed in a Russian drone strike on the northern Ukrainian city of Pryluky overnight, regional governor Viacheslav Chaus said Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked Pope Leo for offering to help settle the Ukraine conflict and told him Kyiv is intent on "escalating" the war, the Kremlin said on Wednesday. A Kremlin statement said they spoke by phone but did not give a date.

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday openly questioned the point of peace talks with Ukraine after accusing Kyiv's senior leadership of ordering deadly terrorist attacks on bridges in Russia that killed seven and injured 115 more.