INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
to bring the two sides closer to a ceasefire.Russian and Ukrainian negotiators exchanged written proposals at peace talks in Istanbul
the memorandums, as expected, nothing surprising happened..
rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire and ramped up air attacks as Russian forces advance further into Ukrainian territory, including
beyond the four regions Moscow claims to have annexed since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022.Russia has demanded that
Ukraine cede more land and abandon Western military support, conditions Kyiv has called unacceptable.Despite the deadlock, Putin said both
have already taken place, with each side freeing more than 1,000 captured soldiers
Putin said Russia is prepared to return the bodies of an additional 3,000 dead Ukrainian soldiers.The Russian president also acknowledged
the strain the war has placed on the economy, with defense spending now accounting for 6.3% of GDP, or 13.5 trillion rubles ($172
