President Vladimir Putin proposed bilateral talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time ever since the commencement of the war. This development came as the US, Ukraine and some European allies gathered in London to hold talks for a deal to halt Russia’s full-scale invasion.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg are expected to meet with the foreign ministers and national security advisers from France, Germany, the UK and Ukraine in London.
While Vladimir Putin has proposed bilateral talks with his counterpart in Ukraine, Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky is said to have not directly addressed it. But is said that he was looking forward to an unconditional ceasefire, followed by lasting peace between the two countries.
Putin stated, “We have always talked about this, that we have a positive attitude towards any peace initiatives. We hope that representatives of the Kyiv regime will feel the same way.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated, “When the president said that it was possible to discuss the issue of not striking civilian targets, including bilaterally, the president had in mind negotiations and discussions with the Ukrainian side.”
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Zelensky also emphasized in his nightly video address that Ukraine “was ready for any conversation” about a ceasefire that would stop strikes on civilians.
Recently, when Vladimir Putin announced an Easter ceasefire, both sides accused each other of violations. Meanwhile, as Donald Trump pushes for a deal between Ukraine and Russia to end the war, the US and some of its European allies will meet on Wednesday in London to help reach the negotiations.