Russia and Ukraine’s first direct talks in three years began Friday with hopes as dim as the gray Istanbul skies.

Ukraine rallied support from its Western allies on Friday after Kyiv and Moscow failed to agree to a ceasefire at their first direct talks in more than three years, with Russia presenting conditions that a Ukrainian source described as "non-starters".

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has reacted to a Russian attack on an evacuation bus in the Sumy region. He stressed that if Russian President Vladimir Putin is truly seeking peace, Moscow must immediately agree to a full ceasefire.