Vladimir Putin is demanding that Ukraine give up all of the eastern Donbas region, renounce ambitions to join NATO, remain neutral and keep Western troops out of the country, three sources familiar with top-level Kremlin thinking told Reuters.

NATO aircraft scrambled from Romania following a large-scale Russian attack on across Ukraine overnight, including in the Odesa region near Danube River border with allied nation.

Moscow demanded that it must participate in any security guarantees provided by the U.S. and Europe to Ukraine. That is likely a non-starter for the West and shows the challenge facing allies as they try to forge a path toward peace.

Nearly a week after President Trump’s Alaska summit, his suggestions of imminent breakthroughs have not come to pass.

Trump met with Putin in Alaska last Friday. The leaders of Britain, Germany, France, Italy and the European Union and NATO then agreed to descend on Washington along with Zelenskyy, after Trump appeared to abandon a stance favouring a ceasefire be agreed to before work on a comprehensive peace deal.

Russia’s foreign minister has cast fresh doubt on peace talks, questioning “the legitimacy” of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to sign any future agreements after targetting a US factory in a large bombardment on Ukraine.

NATO war jets have been forced to scramble after Vladimir Putin unleashed a terrifying drone strike on Odesa. It comes as hopes of ending the gruelling conflict continue to falter after