Russian President Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin has said he is willing to start peace talks directly with Ukraine for the first time since he launched a full-scale invasion of the country more than three years ago.

Moscow has not communicated with Kyiv since the Russian leader launched his devastating land grab in February 2022.

But, speaking to state TV reporter Pavel Zarubin on Monday, Putin said: “We have always talked about this, that we have a positive attitude towards any peace initiatives. We hope that representatives of the Kyiv regime will feel the same way.”

Similarly, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, told reporters: “When the president said that it was possible to discuss the issue of not striking civilian targets, including bilaterally, the president had in mind negotiations and discussions with the Ukrainian side.”

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is yet to respond.

However, he did say in his nightly video address that Kyiv is “ready for any........

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