Russia says all Ukrainian troops have left the Kursk region as Zelenskyy meets Trump at Vatican

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — All Ukrainian troops person been forced from Russia's Kursk region, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff for Russia’s Armed Forces, gave Russian President Vladimir Putin the quality successful a gathering Saturday, Peskov told Russian authorities quality outlet Interfax.

Ukrainian officials person not commented connected the claim.

In a statement, Putin congratulated the Russian soldiers and commanders and said that Kyiv’s incursion had “completely failed”.

“The implicit decision of our force on Kursk’s borderline portion creates the close conditions for further successes for our troops and successful different important areas of the front," helium said.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met successful Vatican City connected the sidelines of the pope's funeral.

The presidents met astatine St. Peter’s Basilica for astir 15 minutes and agreed to proceed negotiations aboriginal connected Saturday, Ukrainian statesmanlike spokesperson Serhii Nykyforov said.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung besides confirmed the gathering and said they “met privately contiguous and had a precise productive discussion.”

Shortly aft arriving successful Rome past Friday, Trump said connected societal media that Ukraine and Russia should conscionable for “very high-level talks” connected ending the three-year warfare sparked by Russia’s invasion. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier Friday, and Trump said some sides were “very adjacent to a deal.”

Meanwhile, successful a connection Friday night, Zelenskyy said that “very important meetings whitethorn instrumentality place” successful coming days, and that an unconditional ceasefire was needed.

“Real unit connected Russia is needed truthful that they judge either the American connection to cease occurrence and determination towards peace, oregon our connection — whichever 1 tin genuinely enactment and guarantee a reliable, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, and past — a dignified bid and information guarantees,” helium said.

“Diplomacy indispensable succeed. And we are doing everything to marque diplomacy genuinely meaningful and yet effective.”

Three radical were killed overnight by Russian attacks crossed Ukraine, section officials besides said.

Two radical died successful a onslaught connected the municipality of Yarova successful Ukraine’s eastbound Donetsk region, section Gov. Vadym Filashkin said successful a station connected societal media. Another idiosyncratic died successful the Dnipropetrovsk region, said Gov Serhiy Lysak. Six radical were injured, including an 88-year-old pistillate and an 11-year-old girl, helium said.

Russia launched 3 missiles and 114 drones implicit Ukraine overnight, Ukraine’s aerial unit wrote successful a connection Saturday. Sixty-six drones were destroyed and a further 31 decoy drones failed to scope their destination.

Meanwhile, Russian aerial defenses changeable down 45 Ukrainian drones overnight, the country’s defence ministry said.