Ukraine live: ‘Now, more than ever, there is chance to end war,’ says Zelenskyy as Witkoff due to meet Putin

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as part of renewed diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. This meeting follows a series of productive discussions between U.S. officials and Ukrainian representatives aimed at establishing a peace framework.

Russia has announced the capture of the strategically significant Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, coinciding with diplomatic discussions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron. This development follows constructive talks between Ukrainian and U.S. negotiators, although the resolution of the ongoing conflict remains uncertain.

A safeguarding expert has reported that no records were found regarding a historic child sex abuse case, despite the Presbyterian Church in Ireland having contacted him about it eight years ago.

A temporary control zone has been established in Bangor, County Down, as veterinarians investigate the suspected presence of the bluetongue virus in two cows. The Minister has expressed strong confidence that the virus has arrived in Ireland, raising concerns about its potential spread.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described recent talks with Ukrainian officials in Florida as 'productive' but acknowledged that significant work remains to be done in establishing a peace framework to end the ongoing conflict with Russia. The discussions aimed to create a pathway for a sovereign Ukraine ahead of U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff's upcoming trip to Moscow.

Recent diplomatic efforts have intensified in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, with Ukraine reportedly agreeing to a peace deal that requires minor finalizations. Despite this progress, significant hurdles remain, particularly concerning territorial concessions demanded by Russia, which complicate the path to a lasting resolution.

Georgia Barter's family expressed deep sorrow over the government's decision not to implement changes to police database access following her suicide, which was ruled an unlawful killing by her partner after years of domestic abuse. This tragic event highlights the ongoing issues surrounding domestic violence and the systemic failures in protecting victims.

Ukrainian negotiators, led by Rustem Umerov, are traveling to the United States for peace talks with U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, amid ongoing violence in Ukraine and recent drone strikes on Russian oil tankers.