On 21 April, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed openness to direct bilateral talks with Ukraine, marking the first such suggestion since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, amid growing pressure from Washington to reach a peace agreement, CNN reports.

Speaking to reporters, Putin claimed Russia would consider negotiating with Kyiv about halting strikes on civilian infrastructure.

“We have a positive attitude towards a ceasefire,” Putin said, referencing Russia’s 30-hour Easter truce, which Russian violated multiple times across the frontlines while accusing Ukraine of violations. He added: “We hope that the representatives of the Kyiv regime will feel the same way.”

The “Kyiv regime” is a Russian propaganda term questioning the legitimacy of the Ukrainian leadership and Ukraine as a state.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later confirmed Putin’s statements, telling Interfax that Putin was referring to potential bilateral negotiations.

The US has presented a framework to both Kyiv and Moscow that includes recognizing Russian control of Ukraine’s Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, and instituting a ceasefire along current frontlines, CNN reported citing an official familiar with the proposal. 

Ukrainian officials have consistently reiterated that the country’s territorial integrity is not up for debate and that compromises cannot involve ceding land to Russia. Zelenskyy has signaled openness to a peace deal but reaffirmed last month that recognizing occupied territories as Russian is a “red line.”