Russia and Ukraine exchanged drone attacks, with five people dead in the strikes, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was optimistic about military progress.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that his country needs funds of more than $65 billion annually as it continues to battle against Russian forces. "Ukraine must tackle a deficit of $40 billion.

President Donald Trump insisted Friday that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “will happen," even as the Kremlin ruled out talks between the two leaders in the near term.

The Kremlin ruled out a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before achieving major progress on a peace deal, raising doubt on ending the war before President Trump’s proposed 50-day deadline.

Delegations from Moscow and Kyiv discussed the possibility of a meeting between Ukrainian President and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during talks in Istanbul this week, Volodymyr Zelensky said in comments released Friday.