Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Russia and Ukraine to halt attacks on civilian vessels in the Black Sea, while agreeing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to pursue a new grain transport route through the region. Erdogan delivered the appeal on Saturday during a joint press conference with Zelenskyy in Istanbul, stressing that strikes on non-military ships were unacceptable regardless of which side was responsible. Related coverage • Ukraine expands its military

Hungry and exhausted residents of the Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Oleshky have arrived in Ukraine during a large-scale civilian evacuation, made possible by the first humanitarian ceasefire of its kind in more than four years of Russia’s war. The six-day truce for the town was secured through mediation involving US First Lady Melania Trump and support from Pope Leo XIV. It marks the longest local halt in hostilities since Russia launched its full invasion of Ukraine in 2022.