The United States at the UN insists that a ceasefire in Ukraine should be immediate and unconditional. — Ukrinform.

Aiming to create a "buffer zone," Russian forces have seized villages near Sumy, Ukraine’s northern regional capital. As 50,000 Russian troops accumulate on Ukraine’s border, the Sumy region prepares for a renewed large-scale offensive. More than 200 settlements are under evacuation orders after Russia advanced deeper into Ukrainian territory.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is hoping separate phone calls Monday with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will make progress toward a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine.

Hundreds of towns are under evacuation orders in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region where Russian forces are focusing their attacks, as Kyiv officials warn it could be preparing a new offensive.Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for 11 settlements on Saturday,

Trump previously said it would take him "about two weeks" to know whether or not Russian President Vladimir Putin was serious about a peace deal.

The Trump administration is weighing options to pressure Russia into concessions at the negotiating table, after direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian teams failed to produce a clear breakthrough.

Germany and other Ukrainian allies have lifted restrictions on Kyiv firing long-range missiles into Russia for the first time, the German chancellor said Monday, after days of Russia bombarding the capital and other regions with massive aerial attacks.

With diplomatic efforts to reach a cease-fire appearing remote, and President Trump apparently abandoning the process, Russia has been escalating its assaults on Ukrainian cities and on the battlefield.