Putin is prepared for direct peace negotiations with Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed bilateral talks to bring peace to Ukraine. He said he was ready to hold more talks after a one-day Easter ceasefire.

Putin said fighting had resumed after a 30-hour unilateral ceasefire declared on Saturday.

Both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire.

“Moscow is open to any peace initiative and expects the same from Kiev,” Putin told a Russian state TV reporter.

“We have always had a positive attitude towards a ceasefire, which is why we have come up with such an initiative,” Putin said.

When asked about Zelensky’s proposed 30-day ceasefire on civilian targets, he said, “This is a matter for careful consideration, possibly bilaterally as well. We are not ruling it out.”

Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov later confirmed that Putin was referring to the possibility of direct talks with Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a 30-day ceasefire extension to protect civilian targets.

Washington has said it would welcome an extension.

US President Donald Trump has vowed to end the three-year war since taking office for a second term. He has shifted US policy from its strong support for Ukraine to accepting Russia's position on the war, although he has received little concessions from Moscow on the issue.

Russia rejected Trump's offer for a full 30-day ceasefire last month, which Ukraine accepted. US officials held indirect talks with both sides in Saudi Arabia, which resulted in Russia agreeing to a limited pause in attacks on Ukrainian energy targets. Although they later accused both sides of violating it.

Source: Arab News