Bangladesh, May 18 -- Russia has issued a fresh warning to Ukraine, urging the embattled country not to allow NATO to derail the latest attempts at peace, even as President Vladimir Putin extends diplomatic overtures to the Arab world in a bid to build new global alliances. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on May 17 accused the Western military alliance of impeding progress toward ending the war and exploiting Ukraine as a geopolitical pawn.

Zakharovas statement follows a rare diplomatic breakthrough between Ukraine and Russia, as both sides convened in Istanbul for the first direct negotiations since 2022. The talks led to a significant prisoner exchange agreement and the exchange of conditions for a potential ceasef...