Putin says he is open to direct peace talks with Ukraine

Putin, Zelensky face pressure from US, which has threatened to walk away from peace efforts

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MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed on April 21 bilateral talks with Ukraine for the first time in years, and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv was prepared for any discussion to halt attacks on civilian targets.

Mr Putin and Mr Zelensky face pressure from the US, which has threatened to walk away from its peace efforts unless some progress is achieved.

Russia and Ukraine said they are open to further ceasefires after a 30-hour Easter truce declared by Moscow at the weekend. Each side accused the other of violating it.

Talks are scheduled this week in London. Ukraine said on April 21 it was sending a delegation to meet officials from the US and European countries. The talks are a follow-up to a Paris meeting last week during which the US and European states discussed ways to end the more than three-year-old war.