America's top diplomat, Marco Rubio, is downplaying hopes of a breakthrough in talks between Ukraine and Russia and says he doesn't have 'high expectations'.

It's after Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned an offer by the Ukrainian leader to meet face-to-face in Turkey, instead sending a more junior delegation.

Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not impressed.

To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Newmarket-on-Fergus native and Professor of Politics at Dublin City University