Ukrainian forces fighting around Velyka Novosilka claim its Russian takeover will amount to nothing more than a flag-raising exercise

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that Vladimir Putin was "afraid" of negotiations on ending the Ukraine war, after the Russian president ruled out direct talks with his Ukrainian counterpart.

Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy does not have the authority to sign documents following potential negotiations with Moscow, the Kremlin leader stated this in an interview with Russian propagandist Pavel Zarubin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that talks with Ukraine were possible but not with its President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he deemed "illegitimate".