Ukraine proposed to Russia to hold a high-level meeting in Istanbul. However, President Vladimir Putin refused, thereby missing an opportunity to move toward peace, according to a press conference by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

A Russian fighter jet has infringed NATO airspace in Estonia, drawing condemnation from the former Soviet country's foreign minister. The incursion, which lasted around one minute, was "not acceptable in any way", according to Margus Tsahkna, adding that the violation was "very serious".

Military experts have warned the Russian president's war-machine could be fully rebuilt to strength and made ready to attack NATO neighbours by 2027 if a peace deal is struck in Ukraine

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin didn’t show up Thursday for proposed direct peace talks in Turkey with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was waiting for Putin in the capital Ankara after challenging him to face-to-face discussions on ending their countries’ more than three-year war.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that the U.K. aims to increase defense spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027.

Russian warplanes entered Nato airspace in Estonia, triggering an emergency alarm in the Baltic Sea. The violation, which lasted for a minute, has been condemned by Tallinn's Foreign Minister as “very serious” and “not acceptable in any way”.

NATO foreign ministers are debating a U.S. demand for a big increase in defense spending, President Donald Trump's administration wants to focus on security challenges outside of Europe.

The delicate balance of global diplomacy is once again on display, as high-stakes talks aim to halt one of the most devastating conflicts of the decade. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte declared Thursday that “the ball is now clearly in Russia’s court” regarding the ongoing negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.