The United Nations insisted on Tuesday that any peace talks on Russia's war in Ukraine must include full accountability for the conflict's litany of violations, following the deadliest month for civilians since May 2022.

Volker Turk’s appeal comes the day after US President Donald Trump warned Moscow that it would face significant new economic sanctions if the war was not ended within 50 days

A Kremlin insider said the Russian supremo does not believe the Americans have seriously engaged with him on the details for a peace deal in Ukraine.

President Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky whether Kyiv was able to hit Moscow and St. Petersburg, according to a senior Ukrainian official familiar with their exchange in a July 4 phone call.

Slovakia has blocked the European Union’s proposed 18th package of sanctions on Russia, dealing a setback to efforts aimed at increasing pressure on Moscow over its war in Ukraine