Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed Russia's offer for direct peace talks, declaring: 'The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time.'
The Ukrainian President said Kyiv is 'ready to meet' but insisted Russia must agree to a ceasefire before talks can begin - after Moscow unleashed a wave of strikes hours after calling for peace.
Mr Zelensky was speaking after Russian dictator Vladimir Putin effectively rejected a ceasefire proposal but instead called for the resumption of direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, 'without preconditions'.
Responding to Putin's proposal, Mr Zelensky wrote on X: 'It is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war. The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time.
'And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire.
