It was already hard to imagine a breakthrough emerging from the direct talks between Russia and Ukraine set to be renewed in Istanbul on Monday.

Russian and Ukrainian officials will meet in Istanbul to exchange their plans for how to end the three-year war, Europe's largest conflict since World War II, after Ukraine says it struck dozens of strategic bombers parked at airbases deep in Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on June 1 an updated 14-member Ukrainian delegation for upcoming peace talks with Russia in Istanbul, expanding the original group of 12. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will again lead the delegation,