KYIV, Ukraine, July 11, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US top diplomat Marco Rubio held "frank" talks on the Ukraine war during a meeting Thursday, both sides said, as Washington hit out at Moscow's lack of "flexibility".

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held "frank" discussions on Ukraine during Thursday's meeting, both sides said. The US criticised Moscow's lack of flexibility.

The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia did not think peace talks on Ukraine have stalled despite Donald Trump's remarks about Russian President Vladimir Putin and Washington's resumption of some weapons to Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that the United States and Russia have exchanged new ideas for Ukraine peace talks after he met with his Russian counterpart in Malaysia.

Russia's latest drone and missile attack on Ukraine's capital overnight, in populated residential areas, killed two people and injured more than a dozen, according to Ukrainian officials.

Russia and North Korea are meeting for a three-day visit that is already sending other countries into a tailspin, as World War 3 fears mount.

Pope Leo told visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday that the Vatican is willing to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks, the Vatican said in a statement. The pope, meeting the Ukrainian leader for the second time in his two-month-old papacy,

The Kremlin said Wednesday it was unfazed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s accusations that President Vladimir Putin was talking “a lot of bulls***” when it comes to Ukraine peace talks. “We’re fairly calm about it.