Russia launched more than 100 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine in nighttime attacks, the Ukrainian air force said Monday, after the Kremlin rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in the more than 3-year war.There was no response from the Kremlin, meanwhile, to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy맥스카지노�s challenge for Russia맥스카지노�s President Vladimir Putin to meet him for face-to-face peace talks in Turkey this week.The United States and European governments have made a concerted push to stop the fighting, which has killed tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides as well as more than 10,000 Ukrainian civilians. Russia맥스카지노�s invading forces have taken around one-fifth of Ukraine.In a flurry of diplomatic developments over the weekend, Russia shunned the ceasefire proposal tabled by the U.S. and European leaders but offered direct talks with Ukraine on Thursday.Ukraine, along with European allies, had demanded Russia accept a ceasefire starting Monday before holding peace talks. Moscow effectively rejected that proposal and instead called for direct negotiations in Istanbul.U.S. President Donald Trump insisted Ukraine accept the Russian offer. Zelenskyy went a step further Sunday and put the pressure on Putin by offering a personal meeting between the leaders.Video below: Zelenskyy hopes for ceasefire with Russia and challenges Putin to meet him in Turkey 'personally'France added its voice to that offer Monday, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot urging Putin to accept 맥스카지노� though he repeated the European position that a truce must be in place before the talks. Russia's failure to join the ceasefire offered by Ukraine would bring further sanctions on Moscow, European leaders say.In Kyiv, local people expressed a mixture of hope and despondency amid the latest peace efforts.Putin doesn맥스카지노�t want a truce to halt the war because 맥스카지노�it will mean that he has lost,맥스카지노� Antonina Metko, 43, told The Associated Press.맥스카지노�That is why they are postponing it. And everything will continue in the same way. Unfortunately,맥스카지노� she said.Vladyslav Nehrybetskyi, 72, was more upbeat, saying 맥스카지노�the seeds맥스카지노� of a peace agreement are being sown even though 맥스카지노�a difficult process맥스카지노� lies ahead. 맥스카지노�So let맥스카지노�s hope,맥스카지노� he said.The Ukrainian government has tried to keep up the momentum for a peace deal started by the Trump administration.맥스카지노�Ukraine wants to end this war and is doing everything for this,맥스카지노� Zelenskyy said on Telegram Monday. 맥스카지노�We expect appropriate steps from Russia.맥스카지노�The Ukrainian leader said he told Pope Leo XIV about peace efforts during his first phone conversation with the new pontiff.Ukraine is counting on the Vatican's help in securing the return of thousands of children that the Kyiv government says have been deported by Russia, Zelenskyy said, adding that he had invited the pope to visit Ukraine.In his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff, Leo called for a genuine and just peace in Ukraine. 맥스카지노�I carry in my heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people,맥스카지노� he said.In 2022, in the war맥스카지노�s early months, Zelenskyy repeatedly called for a personal meeting with the Russian president but was rebuffed, and eventually enacted a decree declaring that holding negotiations with Putin had become impossible.Putin and Zelenskyy have only met once, in 2019. Trump says 맥스카지노�deep hatred맥스카지노� between the sides has made it difficult to push peace efforts forward.