The first high-level talks between Russia and Ukraine since the early months of Moscow's 2022 invasion showed they are far from agreement on steps needed for a ceasefire, even though they promised a major swap of prisoners of war.

As President Donald Trump prepares for crucial calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, his administration faces ongoing talks to secure trade deals.

Referring to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Trump said the discussion will focus on "stopping the bloodbath."

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday that Kyiv and its partners were considering arranging a high-level meeting between Ukraine, Russia, the United States, European Union countries and Britain as part of a push to end Moscow's war in Ukraine.

Russia overnight into Sunday launched its most intense drone attack on Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion in 2022.

Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelensky shared details on his meeting with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome on Sunday.

Long-lasting peace and protection of rights of the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine must be the core result of Russia’s “special military operation”, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

By Tom Balmforth ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Russian negotiators at peace talks in Istanbul demanded Ukraine pull its troops out of all the Ukrainian regions claimed by Moscow before they would agree to a ceasefire,