Peace talks and a settlement in Ukraine have never been on the real agenda of the West, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday, in her first comments on negotiations since Russian and Ukrainian officials held talks on Wednesday.

Peace talks and a settlement in Ukraine have never been on the real agenda of the West, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday, in her first comments on negotiations since Russian and Ukrainian officials held talks on Wednesday.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukrainian forces are holding back a concerted summer push by Russia’s bigger army to break through defenses along parts of the front line.

Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene, Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds and Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur discuss reaching peace in Europe on 'Special Report.'

Russia has advanced around Pokrovsk for many months, but has so far failed to entirely encircle or seize control of the city.

Officials in three of the five Russian regions bordering Ukraine have been accused of embezzling funds for border defenses.

Ukrainian drones hit Russia's Sochi resort while Russian forces bombarded Odessa's residential areas and historic Pryvoz market, hours after ceasefire talks collapsed.