**US and Russia to Hold Closed Consultations in Istanbul**
The United States and Russia have begun a new round of talks regarding the work of embassies at the Russian Consulate in Istanbul. The consultations, which are being held behind closed doors, are expected to last several hours.
According to reports from the Russian state-controlled news agency TASS, the talks will focus solely on embassy operations and not on normalizing the bilateral relationship between the two countries. This is a significant development, as it suggests that the US and Russia are still far apart in terms of their overall relations.
The US State Department has confirmed that the talks will be limited to discussions about embassy operations, with no intention of discussing broader issues like normalizing trade or diplomatic relations. This approach may indicate that the two countries are trying to find a way to manage their differences without necessarily resolving them.
**Ukraine and Russia: A War Without End?**
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, Russian forces have continued their attacks on Ukrainian cities and towns. The country‘s air defenses shot down 85 out of 145 attack and decoy drones launched by Russia overnight, with 49 others disappearing from radar without causing damage. This is a significant number of casualties for the Russian military to suffer, suggesting that they are starting to feel the strain of their invasion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pushing for a complete ceasefire in Ukraine, but Russia has so far refused. Instead, they have agreed to partial ceasefires on energy infrastructure and in the Black Sea, which some have interpreted as an attempt by Russia to gain concessions from Ukraine.
President Zelensky’s comments about the ongoing war with Russia are telling: “There are a lot of attempts there, daily. They (Russia) are bearing losses… There will be more attempts in the Kharkiv and Sumy directions.” He emphasized that Ukraine is ready for peace but wants certain guarantees before making any concessions.
**Ukraine’s Peacekeeping Mission**
In other news, Ukrainian, French, and British military officials have been discussing Ukraine’s requirements for a potential peacekeeping mission. This would involve deploying international troops to prevent future Russian aggression in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the European Union has introduced measures to provide temporary tariff-free access for Ukrainian goods, known as Autonomous Trade Measures. However, trade tensions remain between the US and EU, with the US imposing tariffs on certain EU imports.
The situation is complex and fraught with tension, but it remains to be seen how these developments will play out in the coming days.
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