A bipartisan U.S. bill that would hit Russia with sanctions in a bid to pressure Moscow into good-faith peace negotiations with Ukraine has gained momentum this week in Congress, but it still lacks the presidential push it needs to get over the finish line.

In the north a 50,000-strong Russian force is attacking Sumy, a provincial capital. Our model is detecting artillery fire and explosions along the city’s northern defensive lines. Ukraine is badly outnumbered but officials say the front is holding.

U.S. President Donald Trump has voiced frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the intensification of attacks.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. and Russia have exchanged new ideas for Ukraine peace talks after he met with his Russian counterpart in Malaysia on Thursday.

Between January and June, the number of Russian drone and missile attacks exceeded 23,000, a roughly 605% increase compared to the same period last year.

Marco Rubio and Sergei Lavrov exchanged new ideas for ending the Ukraine conflict amid Trump's consideration of increased sanctions against Russia and military aid to Ukraine

Moran, a Republican, said Trump would rely on authority granted the administration to oppose aggression of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who dramatically escalated conflict in Ukraine during 2022. This week, Trump said Russian forces were violating human rights and Ukraine needed arms such as the Patriot air defense missile.