1. The political wrangling over the conflict in Ukraine is continuing. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he wants to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey on Thursday. That is his response to Putin’s proposal for direct negotiations between the two countries. Zelenskyy suggested in a social media post that he wants a full and lasting ceasefire to begin on Monday. He said there is no point in prolonging the killings. The president added that he hopes the Russians will not look for excuses. Putin said that direct talks need to restart. He stressed that there will be no preconditions. 2. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says negotiations from the United States and China have made “substantial progress” in their trade talks. He says details will be announced on Monday. Bessent made the remarks to reporters after two days of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, wrapped up on Sunday. Their participants included Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng also attended. 3. Researchers say microplastics are spreading throughout oceans from surface levels to several-thousand-meter depths. Microplastics are particles 5 millimeters or smaller that mostly result from the breakdown of larger plastic waste. Fish and other creatures can easily swallow them, raising concerns over their influence on ecosystems.