So, Russia and Ukraine are still as far apart as ever, with the two warring countries unable to make a significant breakthrough in direct talks in Istanbul.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the Russian leader Vladimir Putin is using the topic of talks with Ukraine to avoid tougher sanctions and believes that "Russia is lying" to US President Donald Trump.

By Guy Faulconbridge, Vladimir Soldatkin and Dmitry Antonov MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he did not think Ukraine's leaders wanted peace after accusing them of ordering a deadly bomb attack in Russia that killed seven and injured 115 more just a day before talks in Turkey.

According to ISW’s May 31 report, the new decree authorizes Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade to remove the owners of defense enterprises that don’t meet state orders and replace them with appointed management companies.