Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being too "afraid" to turn up for face-to-face peace talks in Istanbul, as direct negotiations erupted in accusations that Russia made "unacceptable demands".

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s snub of Thursday’s peace talks in Turkey shows how “unserious” the Kremlin is about ending its war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters in Ankara.

Prospects for any agreement to end Russia’s war in Ukraine grow dim as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives in Ankara for talks with Turkey’s president.