Russian launches fresh strikes on critical energy infrastructure – with Kyiv residents told to cut energy consumption every night for the rest of 2024. Mystery surrounds the whereabouts of a US national who had pledged his allegiance to Russian forces but has disappeared in Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin has mocked peace talks set to take place in Switzerland and claimed Russia was not invited.
The high-level international conference is happening in June and is aimed at charting a path toward peace in Ukraine.
Switzerland has recognised a peace process can’t happen without Russia and expressed hope Moscow may join the peace process someday.
But Mr Putin said: “They aren’t inviting us there.
“Moreover, they think there is nothing for us to do there, but at the same time they say that’s it’s impossible to decide anything without us. It would have been funny if it weren’t so sad.”
Russia has dismissed Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s peace formula, which would require Moscow to pull back its troops, pay compensation to Ukraine and face an international tribunal for its action.
