Putin: his country will strengthen its air defenses to counter attack

Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country will strengthen its air defenses to counter recent Ukrainian drone attacks, which have reached deep inside his country and cast a cloud over his showcase economic forum in his hometown of St. Petersburg.

Putin dismissed the idea that European Union countries could mediate Russia-Ukraine peace talks.Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed face-to-face negotiations in a public letter addressed directly to Putin. US President Donald Trump said it would be great if Putin and Zelenskyy meet.

Speaking in response to a question from The Associated Press during a meeting with heads of international news agencies, Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledges the damage from Ukrainian drone attacks.

To our regret, some of them break through, Putin says of the drone strikes. He adds Russia needs to strengthen its air defence system.

Putin dismisses the idea that European Union countries could mediate Russia-Ukraine peace talks. He says any potential third-party mediators needed to be trusted by both sides.

Putin also says Russia is open for a compromise on Ukraine in line with understandings reached at his summit with US President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, adding Ukraine needs to accept them to make a deal to end the conflict, now in its fifth year.

Meanwhile Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposes face-to-face negotiations in a public letter addressed directly to Putin. Zelenskyy acknowledges shifting US priorities, saying it would be wrong to wait for Washington to return its attention to Ukraine while it remains heavily focused on the Iran war.

US President Donald Trump says it would be great if Putin and Zelenskyy meet.

"Well, I don't know, I'm glad that they're maybe talking about meeting. I think we had a lot to do with it. I know exactly what you're doing, but, I think it would be great if they meant they should get it done."

The comments from Trump come as the US House passes legislation that would aid Ukraine and sanction key segments of the Russian economy, overriding objections from Republican leaders who warn the bill would undermine negotiations designed to achieve a comparable but stronger result.

The legislation seeks to cement US assistance for Ukraine by providing more than $1 billion in security and reconstruction aid.

It would make another $8 billion available for Ukraine's defence through loans. The 226-195 vote is a sign of impatience with Trump's approach to the war and represents the House's second major foreign policy break with the US president this week.

The day before, the House, for the first time, approved a war powers resolution aimed at halting US military action against Iran.