Ukraine has made a dramatic diplomatic move as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly rejects Vladimir Putin’s invitation to Moscow and instead invites the Russian leader to Kyiv for direct talks. At the same time, the Kremlin confirms a temporary pause in strikes on Ukrainian cities following a direct request from President Donald Trump. 

Russia has launched a major overnight assault on Ukraine, striking both Odesa and Kharkiv in what Ukrainian officials describe as a coordinated attack targeting civilians and energy infrastructure. Drone strikes hit the Black Sea port city of Odesa, causing deaths, injuries, and widespread destruction, while missile and drone attacks knocked out power across large parts of Kharkiv, leaving much of the city in darkness. Homes, apartment blocks, and critical energy facilities were damaged as rescue teams worked through rubble to search for survivors.