Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have stepped up in recent weeks. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine since the war began lasted just two hours in Istanbul on Friday and only agreed on a prisoner swap, in a sign the two sides remain very far apart. The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced to journalists that the meeting had ended with no explanation but according to people familiar with the talks,

Russia and Ukraine’s first direct talks in three years began Friday with hopes as dim as the gray Istanbul skies.