Ukraine war latest: Russia strikes Kyiv hours after Putin proposed direct peace talks

Ukraine’s air defence units were trying to repel a Russian air attack on Kyiv, the city’s mayor said early Sunday, after the country’s air force warned of a drone attack on the capital.

It comes just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed direct talks with Kyiv in Istanbul on May 15.

Keir Starmer and other European leaders have warned Vladimir Putin he faces “massive” new sanctions if he does not agree to an almost immediate 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin writes.

The prime minister said they were “calling out” the Russian leader with the backing of Donald Trump. “If [Putin] is serious about peace he has a chance to show it now,” Sir Keir said.

And he warned there were “no more ifs and buts” after he flew to Kyiv to stand side by side with President Zelensky, saying Putin had not required extra conditions to be met when “he wanted a ceasefire to have parade – and he does not need them now”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin wants direct talks with Ukraine “without preconditions” on May 15 in Istanbul, he said on Sunday.

The proposal comes after Ukraine, European leaders and President Donald Trump earlier agreed on an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

The ceasefire announcement was made Saturday by the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine after a meeting in Kyiv.

They threatened Putin with new “massive sanctions” if he failed to comply.

The leaders then called Mr Trump on the phone after the meeting.

US president Donald Trump has shared a letter on Truth Social that calls for the release of three Americans who are being held in Russian prison.

Mr Trump shared the letter a few hours after he had a joint call with European leaders and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in which he backed their plan to call for a ceasefire.

In the letter shared to social media platform Truth Social, three Americans, Robert Gilman, David Barnes, and Andre Khachatoorian are highlighted.

In a picture shared by Ukraine’s foreign minister, Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Donald Tusk, Volodymyr Zelensky and Friedrich Merz explain their ceasefire plan to US president Donald Trump.

The call was “warm” and “fruitful” and secured the president’s backing for Saturday’s ultimatum to Vladimir Putin – agree a ceasefire or face more punishing sanctions.

Sir Keir Starmer has said that European allies “together with the US” are “calling Putin out”, as the pressure increases on Russia to accept an unconditional ceasefire.

Speaking from Kyiv, the prime minister said that allies will “ramp up sanctions” if Russian president Vladimir Putin “turns his back on peace”, as he and allies backed plans for a 30-day ceasefire.

Sir Keir and his Ukrainian, French, German and Polish counterparts spoke to US President Donald Trump on Saturday to update him on their progress on the so-called coalition of the willing.

It comes after Mr Trump promised “further sanctions” from the US and “partners” if any ceasefire is struck and then not respected.

Russia will think about a 30-day ceasefire proposal by Europe and backed by the US, the Kremlin’s spokesperson said.

Europe and the US threatened Russian president Vladimir Putin with new “massive” sanctions if he failed to comply.

The announcement was made by the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine after a meeting in Kyiv, after which they held a phone call with Mr Trump.

Dmitry Peskov said: “We have to think about that. These are new developments. We have our own position,” he said.

Turkey is ready to undertake the duty of observe a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, its foreign minister said during a “coalition of the willing” call with Kyiv’s partners on Saturday, a Turkish foreign ministry source told news agency Reuters.

The leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine met in Kyiv on Saturday to discuss a peace deal. They agreed to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire on Monday with the backing of US President Donald Trump, threatening President Vladimir Putin with new “massive” sanctions if he failed to comply.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan joined the coalition of the willing call and emphasised Turkey’s commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the Turkish foreign ministry source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.

Mr Fidan voiced Ankara’s support for the efforts for the unconditional ceasefire and added that Turkey was ready to undertake the duty for observing the ceasefire in Ukraine if it is established, the source also said.

Nato member Turkey has maintained cordial ties with both Kyiv and Moscow since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It has voiced support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and provided it with military help, while opposing sanctions on Russia.

In March, Turkey’s defence ministry said that it could contribute to a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine if a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia is declared. Last month, Ukrainian, British, French and Turkish military representatives met in Turkey to discuss Black Sea security after a possible ceasefire is agreed between Ukraine and Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had declared a three-day pause in fighting against Ukraine, to coincide with a May 9 military parade on Moscow’s Red Square.

But for bloodied Ukrainian soldiers limping into a field hospital, their wounds testified that the ceasefire was not being respected, Alina Smutko reports.

One soldier, who gave his name as Stanislav, sat in the field hospital on Friday night cradling his left arm. It was wrapped in gauze bandage, and blood was soaking through.

“There hasn’t been any ceasefire,” said Stanislav, who did not give his full name in line with Ukrainian military protocol.

“Shelling has continued just as before, drones are flying just like before, the same with explosives being dropped. Nothing has changed at all.”