Putin calls for 'direct talks' with Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for "direct talks" with Ukraine, saying that they should "start without delay, as early as May 15", media reports said.

- 

"We seek serious talks... to remove the root causes of the conflict and start moving towards a lasting, strong peace", Putin said on Saturday, in a rare televised late-night address from the Kremlin, the BBC reported on Sunday.

It came hours after the European leaders - including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron - visited Ukraine and urged Russia to agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had said in response that Moscow would “have to think this through" - but warned that "trying to pressure us is quite useless".

Putin said he would "not rule out" the possibility that the talks - which he proposed should take place in Turkey's largest city Istanbul - could result in Russia and Ukraine agreeing "new ceasefires, a new truce".

The Russian leader said he would speak to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday to discuss the details, the report said.

European leaders visited Ukraine and called for a month-long ceasefire, but Kyiv has not responded to the invitation, which came on the same day.