Putin Signals Willingness for Direct Peace Talks With Ukraine
For the first time since the early weeks of the war, Russian President Vladimir Putin has opened the door to direct talks with Ukraine. Speaking on state TV, Putin said Moscow had "always looked positively on any peace initiatives" and hoped Kyiv would "feel the same way." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later clarified that Putin’s offer included discussions on halting strikes against civilian targets — an issue that has drawn fresh attention following the collapse of a brief Easter ceasefire, which both sides have accused each other of violating.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stopped short of directly answering Putin's offer but stressed Ukraine was "ready for any conversation" aimed at ending attacks on civilians. In his nightly address, Zelensky underlined that "Ukraine stands by its offer, at the very least, not to strike civilian infrastructure" and said he was waiting for a "clear answer from Moscow." Talks are set to continue in London on Wednesday, following last week's Paris meeting where U.S. and European officials discussed steps toward ending the war.
Meanwhile, both Washington and Kyiv have signaled the clock is ticking on peace efforts. U.S. President Donald Trump warned negotiations could stall without progress but added he was "hopeful" a deal might emerge "this week." Zelensky said the goal for London’s talks is simple: "to push for an unconditional ceasefire."
