**Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Continue Amidst Heightened Tensions**

Ukrainian and Russian delegations have resumed peace talks in Istanbul, Turkey, aimed at ending Russia's three-year-long invasion of Ukraine. This latest round of discussions follows a dramatic Ukrainian drone assault on Russia's strategic bomber fleet just a day earlier.

The United States, under President Donald Trump’s administration, has been putting pressure on both sides to reach a peace agreement, or at least a sustained ceasefire. Despite these efforts, negotiations have so far failed to yield significant results. The current talks, held at Istanbul's Ciragan Palace, mark the first direct contact between the two nations' delegations since mid-May.

In a Sunday phone call instigated by Moscow, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated the U.S. stance on the need for continuous direct talks to achieve lasting peace. The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov exchanged views on potential ways to politically resolve the Ukrainian crisis.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has set forth clear objectives for the negotiations, including a full and unconditional ceasefire, the release of prisoners, and the return of abducted children. Conversely, Russia has maintained its demands, such as the annexation of four additional Ukrainian regions, the retention of Crimea, Ukrainian demilitarization, and a halt to Ukraine's potential NATO membership.

The atmosphere surrounding the talks is tense, accentuated by Ukraine's recent drone operation targeting Russian air bases, which reportedly resulted in significant damage to Russia's military aircraft fleet. Zelenskyy highlighted the importance of such actions, stating that making Russia suffer losses would encourage them to return to diplomatic negotiations.

The Russian Defense Ministry has condemned these strikes as terrorist attacks, claiming to have repelled them in several regions, but also acknowledging damage sustained at airfields in Irkutsk and Murmansk.

Following up on these dramatic developments, the Russian regions bordering Ukraine experienced further chaos with the collapse of two railway bridges and the derailment of two trains due to explosions, resulting in at least seven fatalities.

As the situation continues to evolve, both sides remain locked in a complex and volatile conflict, striving for peace amidst ongoing military escalations.