Russian President Vladimir Putin, facing U.S. pressure to show a commitment to peace in Ukraine, proposed on Monday the possibility of bilateral talks with Kyiv—his first such suggestion in years—and indicated openness to further ceasefires following a one-day Easter truce.
Putin said combat resumed after his unexpected 30-hour unilateral ceasefire, announced on Saturday. Both sides accused each other of violating the truce, which Ukraine largely dismissed as a publicity stunt.
Washington expressed support for extending the truce, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a broader 30-day ceasefire to protect civilian infrastructure.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has pledged to end the ongoing three-year war quickly, has shifted American policy toward accommodating Russia’s narrative. However, he has yet to secure any significant concessions from Moscow.
Russia declined a full 30-day ceasefire proposed by Trump last month—a proposal Ukraine accepted. The U.S. has engaged in parallel talks with both sides in Saudi Arabia, but those discussions resulted only in limited ceasefires focused on energy infrastructure, which both countries later accused one another of violating.
In an interview with Russian state television, Putin reiterated Russia’s openness to peace initiatives and called on Ukraine to respond in kind.
“We’ve always had a positive stance on ceasefires, which is why we proposed one, especially during the sacred Easter period,” Putin said.
Asked about Zelensky’s call for a 30-day truce to safeguard civilian targets, Putin responded: “This is something to study carefully, possibly even through bilateral discussions. We do not rule that out.”
Later, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin’s remarks referred to the potential for direct talks with Ukraine. The two nations have not held bilateral peace talks since a failed attempt in the early stages of the war three years ago.
“When the president said there could be discussion about not targeting civilian areas, including bilaterally, he was referring to talks with the Ukrainian side,” Peskov stated, according to the Interfax news agency.
Kyiv had not immediately responded to Putin’s comments. A spokesperson for President Zelensky declined to comment when approached.
Ongoing Air Strikes
President Zelensky stated early Monday that Ukrainian forces had been instructed to respond in kind to Russian military actions.
“Ukraine’s response will be symmetrical: a ceasefire will be answered with a ceasefire, while Russian attacks will be met with our defensive strikes. Actions speak louder than words,” Zelensky posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that Washington may pull out of Ukraine peace talks altogether if meaningful progress isn’t made within days. On Sunday, Trump appeared more hopeful, suggesting a potential agreement could come “this week.”
Russia remains firm on its key demands, including that Ukraine cede territories claimed by Putin and agree to permanent neutrality—terms Kyiv sees as equivalent to surrender, leaving the country vulnerable to future aggression.
Responding to Trump’s comments about an imminent peace deal, Peskov told reporters during a daily call, “We have no comment for now, especially regarding timing.
“But President Putin and the Russian side remain open to pursuing a peaceful resolution. We continue to engage with the American side and hope these efforts yield results.”
Although Ukraine had no air raid sirens on Sunday, Zelensky reported nearly 3,000 Russian ceasefire violations, with the most intense fighting and shelling occurring around Pokrovsk.
Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry said on Sunday that Ukrainian forces had fired on Russian positions 444 times and launched more than 900 drone attacks, causing civilian casualties.
