Delegations from Moscow and Kyiv discussed the possibility of a meeting between Ukrainian President and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during talks in Istanbul this week, Volodymyr Zelensky said in comments released Friday.

US President Donald Trump 's decision to cut the deadline for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is a show of strength that could bring peace closer. This was reported by Charter97.org with reference to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky on social network X.

President Trump said Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will hold peace talks, but Russia said not to expect that soon. "It's going to happen," Trump told reporters,

Russian forces, meanwhile, pounded four Ukrainian cities in nighttime attacks that officials said killed a child.

Donald Trump has given Vladimir Putin less than two weeks to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine or face heavy sanctions.

Vladimir Putin may be growing increasingly worried about a small NATO member on Russia's doorstep that is openly preparing for potential warfare.In what resembles a David versus Goliath standoff, the tiny Baltic state of Lithuania has started boosting military expenditures and conducting war games in response to escalating threats from Moscow.

The Kremlin ruled out a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before achieving major progress on a peace deal, raising doubt on ending the war before President Trump’s proposed 50-day deadline.

Dmitry Peskov's statement comes as the 50-day deadline approaches for U.S. President Donald Trump to potentially impose sanctions on Moscow if Russia fails to agree to a peace deal.

Russia unleashes fresh drones and missiles onslaught on Ukraine's civilians in defiance of US demands for an end to the war, even as there is talk of a fresh summit to try and end the conflict

Ukrainian analysts have told Newsweek the move undoes a decade of democratic progress, although its president Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday he backed a new draft law aimed at strengthening the independence the anti-corruption institutions. Newsweek has contacted the Ukrainian president's office and the Kremlin for comment.

Trump says he’ll impose new economic penalties on Russia within 10-12 days if Putin can’t agree to a ceasefire. His “secondary sanctions” would aim at oil trade.