Vladimir Putin has made the startling claim that the West is responsible for the conflict in Ukraine. The Russian dictator said he was doing all he could to stop the war despite continuing to launch missile and drone strikes on civilians. He also claimed Western people were friendly to him and Russia.

U.S. President Donald Trump says he has called Russian President Vladimir Putin and begun to arrange a meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a critical step toward bringing a possible end to Russia's war on Ukraine.