Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that talks about a security guarantee for Ukraine – against Russia – must involve Moscow itself. "Moscow won't agree with collective security guarantees negotiated without Russia," he said, implying a Russian veto over defenses for Ukraine.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has had a profoundly negative impact on Ukraine, as well as on the global food, financial, and energy markets.

U.S. President Donald Trump started the week declaring a diplomatic breakthrough in his bid to prod Moscow and Kyiv closer to peace, announcing he had begun arranging for direct talks between Russia's Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Ukraine’s attacks, encouraged by President Trump, have disrupted flows and triggered angry reactions from regional leaders.

The Kremlin’s goal is to destabilize Europe, and attacks on infrastructure are a preferred weapon, a new report said.

Trump, Zelensky to meet in Washington next week after US-Russia summit ends without agreement * Top European leaders to join Zelensky in Washington for Trump talks * Putin offers Trump frozen battle lines,

Special U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff says Russian leader Vladimir Putin agreed to allow the U.S. and Europe to offer Ukraine a security guarantee resembling NATO's collective defense mandate.

The European Union’s foreign policy chief said Friday that the possibility of Ukraine ceding land to Russia as part of a peace deal to end their three-year war is “a trap” set by Russian President Vladimir Putin.