Russian forces, meanwhile, pounded four Ukrainian cities in nighttime attacks that officials said killed a child.

Ukraine on Wednesday proposed direct talks within weeks between its President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia's Vladimir Putin while Moscow tempered prospects for progress at a fresh round of talks in Istanbul on Wednesday.

Ukrainian and Russian officials ended their third round of peace negotiations in under an hour Wednesday — falling short of establishing a cease-fire but agreeing to a prison swap. The talks took place in Istanbul just over a week after President Trump threatened Russian President Vladimir Putin with “very severe tariffs” if he doesn’t commit to a cease-fire in Ukraine within 50 days.