MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Moscow is open to direct peace talks with Ukraine, signaling a potential shift in diplomatic posture more than three years into the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by saying Kyiv remains ready for discussions aimed at halting attacks on civilian targets, as both sides face mounting international pressure to make progress toward ending the conflict.
The remarks come amid renewed diplomatic activity following a 30-hour Easter ceasefire declared unilaterally by Moscow over the weekend, which was marred by mutual accusations of violations. Despite the truce’s breakdown, Russia and Ukraine have expressed openness to further limited ceasefires and a broader dialogue, underscoring growing fatigue and urgency among global stakeholders.
Talks involving Ukrainian officials, the United States, and European countries are expected to resume this week in London, building on a previous round of discussions held in Paris. The United States has warned that it may abandon its mediation efforts if tangible progress toward a truce is not made soon.
Putin’s offer of direct talks was issued during an interview with Russian state television on Monday, marking the first time in years that the Kremlin leader has publicly endorsed bilateral negotiations. “We have always spoken positively about peace initiatives,” Putin told state TV reporter Pavel Zarubin. “We hope that representatives of the Kyiv regime will adopt a similar approach.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov clarified the statement, telling the Interfax news agency that Putin’s comments referred specifically to the possibility of bilateral discussions on ceasing attacks on civilian infrastructure. “When the president said that it was possible to discuss not striking civilian targets, including bilaterally, he was referring to negotiations and discussions with the Ukrainian side,” Peskov said.
There have been no direct high-level talks between Russia and Ukraine since the early weeks of the war, which began in February 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Zelenskyy, in his nightly video address, reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness to pursue any diplomatic avenue that leads to a cessation of strikes on civilian areas. He reiterated Ukraine’s standing offer for an unconditional ceasefire and called for a clear response from Moscow. “We are ready for any conversation about how to achieve this,” he said, emphasizing that protecting civilians must be the priority.
Describing the upcoming talks in London as crucial, Zelenskyy said their “primary task” would be to secure an unconditional ceasefire — a step he called essential for establishing “real and lasting peace.” He noted that continued Russian attacks during the Easter truce suggested Moscow was not genuinely committed to de-escalation.
“Ukraine maintains its proposal not to strike at the very least civilian targets,” Zelenskyy said. “And we are expecting a clear response from Moscow.”
The Ukrainian president also stated that his military would continue mirroring Russia’s battlefield behavior. “Ceasefire will be met with ceasefire, and Russian strikes will be met with our own in defense,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Actions always speak louder than words.”
U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Friday that Washington may walk away from the diplomatic process if both sides fail to make meaningful progress. However, Trump sounded more hopeful on Sunday, saying he believed a deal could still be reached “this week.”
While Moscow has maintained that it remains open to peace, its demands — including Ukraine’s recognition of Russia’s annexation claims and a commitment to permanent neutrality — remain sticking points. Kyiv has rejected those terms as tantamount to surrender, saying they would leave the country vulnerable to future aggression.
“President Putin and the Russian side remain open to seeking a peaceful settlement,” Peskov said Monday. “We are continuing to work with the American side and, of course, we hope that this work will yield results.”
