Vladimir Putin sends horror 23-word warning as he turns back on Ukraine ceasefire

an ominous tirade concerning the war in Ukraine claiming Russia has the "strength and resources" to carry on fighting until the conflict comes to what he called a "logical conclusion", implying victory for the Kremlin. Speaking today the Russian leader, who launched an illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, said: "We have enough strength and resources to bring what was started in 2022 to a logical conclusion with the result that Russia needs."

on the same day an American delegation, consisting of Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Ukrainian President Zelensky in Rome. The Russian leader's words have also been released 24 hours before President Trump said he would phone both Putin and Zelensky to end what he called the "bloodbath".

Speaking to state television, Mr Putin, 72, said Moscow's goal was to "eliminate the causes that triggered this crisis" and to "guarantee Russia's security".

President Putin has so far refused to meet President Zelensky face-to-face and planned peace talks between the two men fell through last week when he did not travel to a venue in Turkey for talks. Mr Zelensky did attend the event.

However, officials from the Kremlin did travel to Istanbul in Mr Putin's stead for the first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia since the war began.

The talks in Istanbul broke up after less than two hours, although both sides agreed on exchanging 1,000 prisoners of war each, according to the heads of both delegations.

Ukraine's intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, said on Ukrainian television on Saturday that the exchange could happen as early as next week.

Despite peace seemingly being in the air, Russia launched another deadly drone strike into Ukraine on Sunday launching more than 273 projectiles in the biggess assault since the start of the invasion. The previous recoerd was 267 drones which were fired in February this year.

In Ukraine, Kyiv regional Governor Mykola Kalashnyk said a 28-year-old woman was killed in the drone attack and three other people, including a 4-year-old child, were wounded.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down seven Ukrainian drones overnight and another 18 on Sunday morning.