Putin signals readiness to direct talks with Kyiv, despite ongoing strikes in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated he is open to direct bilateral talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Speaking to Russian state television on Monday, Putin said that Moscow “has always viewed any peace initiative positively. We hope that representatives of the Kyiv regime share the same perspective.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later clarified that Putin’s remarks reflected a willingness to engage in direct negotiations with Ukraine, specifically regarding a possible agreement not to target civilian infrastructure.

Despite these comments, Russia continues its strikes on Ukrainian cities. On Tuesday, an explosion in a residential building in Zaporizhzhia killed one woman and injured 15 others, including two children. Ukrainian authorities reported several additional attacks across the country the same day, including strikes on Kharkiv that wounded at least seven people.

Putin did not deny that Russia had hit civilian sites in Ukraine but claimed they were being used for military purposes.

“This is something we need to examine. It all warrants a thorough investigation—perhaps even a joint one, through dialogue. We do not rule that out,” he said.