Russia says open to direct discussions with Ukraine

MOSCOW/KYIV — Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed on Monday bilateral talks with Ukraine for the first time since the early days of the conflict, and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv was eager to discuss a halt to attacks on civilian targets.

Speaking to a state TV reporter, Putin said fighting had resumed after the 30-hour Easter ceasefire, which he had announced unilaterally on Saturday. And Moscow, he said, was open to any peace initiatives and expected the same from Kyiv.

"We have always talked about this, that we have a positive attitude toward any peace initiatives. We hope that representatives of the Kyiv regime will feel the same way."