Ukraine proposes fresh ceasefire talks to Russia after weeks of missile strikes

Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, has proposed a meeting with Russian officials next week, as no progress has been made to end the war.

On Friday night, Russia launched 300 strike drones and 30 missiles against Ukrainian cities in one night, affecting the Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Dnipro, Sumy, Kherson, Volyn, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Zhytomyr regions.

In an address to the nation on Saturday, Zelenskyy said: "Everything must be done to achieve a ceasefire. And the Russian side must stop hiding from decisions.

"Prisoner exchanges. Return of children. End to the killings. And a meeting at the level of leaders is needed to truly ensure peace – a really lasting one. Ukraine is ready for such a meeting."

US President Donald Trump has threatened Russia with 'severe tariffs' of 100 per cent if a ceasefire is not reached in 50 days.

The United States announced earlier this week that it will also send billions of dollars worth of military equipment to NATO to help Ukraine on the battlefield.

Talks between Russia and Ukraine are ongoing to see the return of prisoners and they are continuing to implement agreements reached during an earlier meeting in Istanbul.

Zelenskyy ended his speech by thanking the people of Ukraine for helping in the war as he said that they will never forget those who have fallen.

"We must all remember that our state’s independence is built on the resilience and patriotism of our people, our Ukrainian heroes – heroes of different generations who have defended and continue to defend Ukraine."