World leaders had hoped to secure U.S. backing for tougher sanctions on Russia, which struck Ukraine with missiles and drones overnight.

Ahead of a meeting of the Group of Seven, Trump told reporters that ousting Russia from the talks in 2014 was a "very big mistake," adding that there would not be a conflict between Russia and Ukraine if President Vladimir Putin was still welcome at the summit.

The president made the statement during the G7 summit in Canada, which he attended at the invitation from Canadian PM Mark Carney. “Diplomacy is in crisis; there is one clear reason: Putin has openly rejected every peace initiative,

The death toll from dozens of Russian drone and missile strikes on Kyiv early on Tuesday rose to 16, according to Ukrainian authorities. Two people were also killed in attacks on the Black Sea port of Odesa, according to officials.

Ukraine received another 1,245 bodies of its soldiers killed in the war with Russia on Monday in the final stage of the repatriation of remains agreed at talks in Istanbul, Ukrainian officials said.

Russia launched one of its most intense air assaults of the war against Ukraine overnight on Monday, June 16th, killing at least 15 people and injuring over 100. -The barrage, involving over 440 drones and 32 missiles,