Russia promised at peace talks today to scale down its military operations around Kyiv and northern Ukraine, while Ukraine proposed adopting a neutral status but with international guarantees that it will be protected from attack.

The talks in a palace in Istanbul, Turkey came as Russia's invasion has been halted on most fronts by strong resistance, with Ukrainians recapturing territory in counter-attacks, even as civilians are trapped in besieged cities.

"In order to increase mutual trust and create the necessary conditions for further...