The BBC reports from Donetsk where swarms of fibre optic drones give Russia the edge as Ukraine defends towns behind the front line.

While world leaders bicker over the prospects for peace, the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two is heating up fast.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the two countries will also start a joint program to produce long-range weapons that Kyiv can use against Russian targets.

Orban is widely seen as Russia's closest ally in the European Union, and his government has broken ranks with his European partners by maintaining trade and opposing sanctions on Russia, refusing to allow the transit of weapons, and comparing Ukraine to Afghanistan.

Ex-Russian president Dmitry Medvedev raised the specter of World War III as the rhetoric between the White House and the Kremlin ramped up over the Ukraine war.

A Saskatchewan couple joined The Morning Edition to talk about their new illustrated fantasy novel called Crown of Thorns. The narrative parallels current and past events in Ukraine, and a portion of every book sale will go to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation’s Aid for Artists project.

Defence Minister Rustem Umerov led the Ukrainian delegation to the May 16 talks, the first between the warring nations since spring 2022. The Russian team was led by Vladimir Medinsky.

The U.S. president lashed out at the Kremlin on Tuesday as the White House continued to consider increasing sanctions against Russia.