KYIV — Russia and Ukraine will meet next Monday in Istanbul for a second round of peace talks if the Kremlin produces its promised memorandum of terms for an agreement. After the first round of direct talks on May 16 in Istanbul, Russia and Ukraine agreed to prepare memorandums detailing their conditions for peace.

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.

Russia will announce the next round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in the nearest future, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday. The neutral status of Ukraine remains one of Russia's key demands in the peace negotiations,

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.

The chancellor said earlier there were "no longer" any range restrictions on weapons supplied by Kyiv's Western allies.

Germany announced Wednesday it will strengthen its military relationship with Ukraine with the purchase of long-range missiles produced by 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,

KYIV (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said that Russia has gathered 50,000 troops near Ukraine's northern Sumy region, but added that Kyiv had taken steps to prevent Moscow from conducting a large-scale offensive there.

You can reach Shane by emailing s.croucher@newsweek.com Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 50,000 Russian troops were massing at the border near the Sumy region of northeastern Ukraine and Moscow may be preparing for a large-scale summer offensive.