Russian President Vladimir Putin has ratcheted up tensions with Europe, warning that if the bloc starts a war with Russia, Moscow is ready.

Putin also claimed that Zelensky’s European allies have pushed for demands that are “absolutely unacceptable."

Russia said on Monday that it had captured the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, in claims that Kyiv has yet to confirm or deny.

Ahead of the meeting, Russia claims to have captured the key eastern city of Pokrovsk, a front-line development Ukraine denies. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meeting with political leaders in Ireland on an official visit.

Russia launched its largest barrage of drones and missiles in a month across Ukraine, killing at least three people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday, as a Kyiv delegation heads to the United States for fresh peace talks.

President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and special envoy Steve Witkoff are meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday to discuss the war in Ukraine.

Putin has repeatedly falsely claimed to capture Ukrainian cities prematurely.

Ukraine’s chief negotiator, in an exclusive interview, says conceding sovereign territory is off-limits in peace talks.

Her arrest, along with four others, follows the dramatic resignation from parliament last Friday of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma, who has been accused of duping the 17 South African men - including some of her relatives - into fighting for Russia, an allegation she denies.