US Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed on Friday that he had met with an envoy for President Vladimir Putin this week and sent him back to Moscow with a message: the clock is ticking on when there needs to be a breakthrough in the peace talks to end the Ukraine war.

The Trump administration says it will soon be clear if Russia's Vladimir Putin really wants a peace deal in Ukraine, as France and Britain accuse him of playing for time.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has not received a sign from European nations that they want to engage in talks on ending the war in Ukraine, according to the Kremlin. "So far there have been no signals,

US to know whether Russia 'serious about peace' with Ukraine in coming weeks, Rubio says US, Russia make 'significant progress' towards Ukraine ceasefire deal, Kremlin negotiator claims Trump's team advises against calling Putin until Russia agrees to Ukraine ceasefire,

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Russian ballistic missile strike Friday on the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih killed at least 14 people and injured more than 50, Ukrainian officials said, as U.S. and European leaders pressed Russia to accept a ceasefire in the conflict.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Reuters on Friday that any potential peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia would be "difficult to digest" but would still be better than the alternative of more death and destruction.

Moscow praises Trump for "preventing World War 3," U.S. officials reassure NATO and analysts warn of renewed Russian offensives.