For the first time in years, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed on Monday that Moscow is willing to engage in bilateral peace talks with Ukraine, signaling a shift towards potential negotiations. This statement comes in the wake of a short-lived Easter ceasefire that both sides accused each other of violating.

Putin's remarks were made during an interview with Russian state television, where he confirmed Russia's readiness to consider any peace proposals. "We are open to any peace initiatives and expect the same from Kyiv," Putin stated, indicating a possible shift towards diplomacy.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later clarified Putin’s comments, noting that his reference to avoiding civilian targets was related to potential negotiations with Ukraine, as reported by Reuters.

The Easter ceasefire, unilaterally declared by Russia for 30 hours starting on Saturday, was marred by accusations of violations from both sides. While Ukraine largely dismissed the truce as a mere public relations tactic, the United States expressed support for the move and called for its extension.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not directly address Putin’s statements about peace talks but instead reiterated his country’s position. On X, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine's military response would remain proportional, with ceasefire violations leading to reciprocal actions from Ukraine.

As part of ongoing diplomatic efforts, Ukraine confirmed that a high-level delegation will travel to London this Wednesday for talks with US and European officials. These discussions will aim to develop a strategy for ending the conflict, following a similar summit held in Paris last week.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio both warned that there is limited time left to make meaningful progress. However, Trump offered a more hopeful outlook on Sunday, saying, "Hopefully, the two sides will reach a deal this week."