Ukraine, Russia hold third round of peace talks in Istanbul * Ukrainian drones reportedly target key logistics hub in southwestern Russia * Russia suffered 80,000 casualties during Kursk incursion, Ukraine's military chief says * 'He sees Trump as emotional and susceptible to influence' — Putin not worried about 50-day ceasefire deadline,

"China has an influence on Russia, like the European Union has an influence on Ukraine," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

With Western leaders seemingly pushing for an end to the war in Ukraine, Russia's leader Vladimir Putin is showing no sign of stopping the fighting after its latest wave of attacks

Russian and Ukrainian negotiators met in Istanbul on Wednesday for their first peace talks in more than seven weeks, with Moscow under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to strike a deal or face tough new sanctions.

Kyiv and Moscow will hold a new round of peace talks — the first in seven weeks — on Wednesday in Turkey, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Ukraine on Wednesday proposed direct talks within weeks between its President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia's Vladimir Putin, but Moscow tempered prospects for progress at a fresh round of talks in Istanbul on Wednesday.