Ukraine wants to organize a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This will be the next step in negotiations with Russia, says Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Turkey for direct talks with Russia. But the Kremlin sent a lower-level delegation that doesn't include President Vladimir Putin.

Russia and Ukraine are set to hold their first direct peace talks in three years, both countries said Thursday, but hopes for a breakthrough remained dim after Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned an offer by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet face-to-face in Turkey.