While world leaders bicker over the prospects for peace, the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two is heating up fast.

Russia's defence ministry said on Tuesday that Ukraine, backed by certain European countries, had taken several 'provocative steps' aimed at derailing Moscow-initiated direct peace talks with Kyiv. The first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in over three years took place on May 16,

Vladimir Medinsky, the head of Russia's delegation at peace talks on Ukraine, said on Wednesday he had sent proposals to Ukraine with a date and venue to exchange memorandums, or conditions, to stop the fighting.

Some of the advanced weapon systems that Kyiv’s allies supplied to Ukraine during the 3-year-old war were subject to range and target restrictions.

Friedrich Merz has plunged into diplomatic efforts to try to secure a ceasefire and keep Western support for Ukraine intact since becoming Germany’s leader nearly three weeks ago.

By Sarah Marsh and Yuliia Dysa BERLIN/KYIV (Reuters) -Germany and Ukraine aim to jointly develop the industrial production of long-range missiles, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Wednesday as he vowed to keep piling on more pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has met with new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin. The talks on Wednesday came amid an escalation in Russia’s bombing campaign despite U.S.

By Sarah Marsh BERLIN (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy landed in Berlin on Wednesday for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, his office said, part of a diplomatic drive to end the war in Ukraine,