Charles Mains

Putin hosted Witkoff on the sidelines of a working trip to Russia's second-largest city of St. Petersburg. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov played down the chances of a breakthrough on the Ukraine issue, but said it was an opportunity for both sides to clarify their positions and discuss a possible future meeting between the two leaders.

Putin hosted Witkoff on the sidelines of a working trip to Russia's second-largest city of St. Petersburg. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov played down the chances of a breakthrough on the Ukraine issue, but said it was an opportunity for both sides to clarify their positions and discuss a possible future meeting between the two leaders.

Putin rejected an earlier Trump-backed ceasefire proposal, instead laying out conditions for peace that critics say amount to Ukraine's de facto capitulation. In turn, Trump is warned he may resort to secondary sanctions on Russian oil exports if he feels Putin is dragging out negotiations while trying to improve Russia's position on the battlefield. Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow.

Putin rejected an earlier Trump-backed ceasefire proposal, instead laying out conditions for peace that critics say amount to Ukraine's de facto capitulation. In turn, Trump is warned he may resort to secondary sanctions on Russian oil exports if he feels Putin is dragging out negotiations while trying to improve Russia's position on the battlefield. Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow.

Russia accused Ukraine of destroying a gas metering station in the Russian city of Suja. Ukrainian officials countered Russia was behind the attack and said Moscow had also targeted energy infrastructure inside Ukraine itself. The back-and-forth came as a parallel U.S.-backed ceasefire deal in the Black Sea looked in doubt.

Russia accused Ukraine of destroying a gas metering station in the Russian city of Suja. Ukrainian officials countered Russia was behind the attack and said Moscow had also targeted energy infrastructure inside Ukraine itself. The back-and-forth came as a parallel U.S.-backed ceasefire deal in the Black Sea looked in doubt.

after several European countries said they would not meet Kremlin demands to lift sanctions on Russian maritime trade. Meanwhile, the Kremlin continued to strike targets outside of either ceasefire agreement. In the latest, Ukraine said several people were killed and more injured due to drone strikes on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Charles Baines, NPR News, Moscow.

after several European countries said they would not meet Kremlin demands to lift sanctions on Russian maritime trade. Meanwhile, the Kremlin continued to strike targets outside of either ceasefire agreement. In the latest, Ukraine said several people were killed and more injured due to drone strikes on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Charles Baines, NPR News, Moscow.

The apparent attack took place at an inactive gas metering station in the Russian city of Suja near the Ukrainian border, causing a large fire to break out. Russia's defense ministry accused retreating Ukrainian troops in the area of sabotage and trying to discredit President Trump's partial ceasefire initiative.

The apparent attack took place at an inactive gas metering station in the Russian city of Suja near the Ukrainian border, causing a large fire to break out. Russia's defense ministry accused retreating Ukrainian troops in the area of sabotage and trying to discredit President Trump's partial ceasefire initiative.

Meanwhile, Ukraine said Russia had targeted its own gas infrastructure in a bid to pin blame on Kiev. The 30-day pause on attacks on energy infrastructure... was the key outcome of Trump's negotiations with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

Meanwhile, Ukraine said Russia had targeted its own gas infrastructure in a bid to pin blame on Kiev. The 30-day pause on attacks on energy infrastructure... was the key outcome of Trump's negotiations with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

Following lengthy phone calls this week, Trump had sought a full month-long ceasefire, but Putin rejected the deal. Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow.

Following lengthy phone calls this week, Trump had sought a full month-long ceasefire, but Putin rejected the deal. Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow.

President Putin is on record saying he supports Trump's ceasefire proposal in principle, but the Kremlin leader also laid out a laundry list of issues that he insists require further discussions. That includes how to keep Ukraine from using the ceasefire to rearm, who would monitor the agreement, and what penalties might exist for violating its terms.

President Putin is on record saying he supports Trump's ceasefire proposal in principle, but the Kremlin leader also laid out a laundry list of issues that he insists require further discussions. That includes how to keep Ukraine from using the ceasefire to rearm, who would monitor the agreement, and what penalties might exist for violating its terms.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accuses Russia of stalling for time to improve its battlefield position. Meanwhile, Moscow continues to demand what a senior Russian foreign ministry official called ironclad security guarantees, excluding Ukraine from NATO membership and ruled out NATO-aligned European peacekeepers monitoring any ceasefire, if and when it comes. Charles Mains, NPR News.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accuses Russia of stalling for time to improve its battlefield position. Meanwhile, Moscow continues to demand what a senior Russian foreign ministry official called ironclad security guarantees, excluding Ukraine from NATO membership and ruled out NATO-aligned European peacekeepers monitoring any ceasefire, if and when it comes. Charles Mains, NPR News.

According to the Kremlin, Putin met with Witkoff late evening and passed on additional information and signals about the ceasefire proposal to President Trump. In his lone public remarks on the offer, Putin expressed appreciation for Trump's diplomatic efforts and endorsed the idea of a ceasefire in principle, but Putin also presented a list of issues that warranted further discussions.

According to the Kremlin, Putin met with Witkoff late evening and passed on additional information and signals about the ceasefire proposal to President Trump. In his lone public remarks on the offer, Putin expressed appreciation for Trump's diplomatic efforts and endorsed the idea of a ceasefire in principle, but Putin also presented a list of issues that warranted further discussions.