Joanna Kakissis

She's saying, I wish I had told them, I love you, Dad. So when the buses carrying the soldiers arrived, the families rushed to hug them as they walked out. One young soldier, Anton Kobylnik, told us he'd been in captivity for three years. He's saying, I won't really feel like I'm at home until I see my mom. We only saw a handful of these reunions.

She's saying, I wish I had told them, I love you, Dad. So when the buses carrying the soldiers arrived, the families rushed to hug them as they walked out. One young soldier, Anton Kobylnik, told us he'd been in captivity for three years. He's saying, I won't really feel like I'm at home until I see my mom. We only saw a handful of these reunions.

She's saying, I wish I had told them, I love you, Dad. So when the buses carrying the soldiers arrived, the families rushed to hug them as they walked out. One young soldier, Anton Kobylnik, told us he'd been in captivity for three years. He's saying, I won't really feel like I'm at home until I see my mom. We only saw a handful of these reunions.

However, Michelle, most family members were left waiting in tears, including 18-year-old Milena Moroz. Her father is still missing.

However, Michelle, most family members were left waiting in tears, including 18-year-old Milena Moroz. Her father is still missing.

However, Michelle, most family members were left waiting in tears, including 18-year-old Milena Moroz. Her father is still missing.

Speaking to reporters in Turkey, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Russia missed an opportunity to work toward a peace deal by sending mid-level technocrats to the talks.

Speaking to reporters in Turkey, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Russia missed an opportunity to work toward a peace deal by sending mid-level technocrats to the talks.

Putin had proposed the talks for May 15th as the Kremlin fueled speculation that he might attend. Then President Trump said he might go too. But only Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky showed up in Turkey on Thursday. He sent his own delegation to Istanbul, but won't be attending. Joanna Kekisis, NPR News, Kyiv.

Putin had proposed the talks for May 15th as the Kremlin fueled speculation that he might attend. Then President Trump said he might go too. But only Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky showed up in Turkey on Thursday. He sent his own delegation to Istanbul, but won't be attending. Joanna Kekisis, NPR News, Kyiv.

Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Zelensky said that if Putin does not show up in Turkey, it will send a clear signal. Russia is not ready for any kind of negotiation. Zelensky says he will be in Turkey's capital, Ankara, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and would move to Istanbul if Putin insists on meeting there.

Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Zelensky said that if Putin does not show up in Turkey, it will send a clear signal. Russia is not ready for any kind of negotiation. Zelensky says he will be in Turkey's capital, Ankara, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and would move to Istanbul if Putin insists on meeting there.

If Putin makes this step and says he's ready for a ceasefire, Zelensky said, then this opens the way to discussions on ending the war. Joanna Kakisis, NPR News, Kyiv.

If Putin makes this step and says he's ready for a ceasefire, Zelensky said, then this opens the way to discussions on ending the war. Joanna Kakisis, NPR News, Kyiv.

In his nightly video address, Zelensky said he was optimistic that Russia could agree to a ceasefire on Monday. I will be in Turkey on May 15th and I will be waiting there for Putin, Zelensky said. And I hope this time Putin will not look for reasons why he cannot do something. On Saturday, the Russian leader said he was ready for direct talks with Ukraine but did not address a ceasefire.

In his nightly video address, Zelensky said he was optimistic that Russia could agree to a ceasefire on Monday. I will be in Turkey on May 15th and I will be waiting there for Putin, Zelensky said. And I hope this time Putin will not look for reasons why he cannot do something. On Saturday, the Russian leader said he was ready for direct talks with Ukraine but did not address a ceasefire.

The same day, the leaders of four major European countries traveled to Kiev. Together with Zelensky, they proposed an unconditional ceasefire that would last 30 days starting on Monday. President Trump says he supports the proposal. Joanna Kekisis, NPR News, Kyiv.

The same day, the leaders of four major European countries traveled to Kiev. Together with Zelensky, they proposed an unconditional ceasefire that would last 30 days starting on Monday. President Trump says he supports the proposal. Joanna Kekisis, NPR News, Kyiv.

The deal will allow the U.S. to develop and profit from Ukraine's critical minerals and natural resources, while also investing in the country's reconstruction. Ukrainian lawmaker Roman Kostenko, who is also a colonel in Ukraine's armed forces, said he remains concerned that the deal does not have explicit security guarantees. So this is an open question, he told NPR.

The deal will allow the U.S. to develop and profit from Ukraine's critical minerals and natural resources, while also investing in the country's reconstruction. Ukrainian lawmaker Roman Kostenko, who is also a colonel in Ukraine's armed forces, said he remains concerned that the deal does not have explicit security guarantees. So this is an open question, he told NPR.