Putin ready for direct talks with Ukraine, spokesperson says

Moscow turns down proposal to extend Easter ceasefire as Ukraine officials head to London to discuss US peace plan

The Kremlin says it is open to direct talks with Ukraine but has declined to back Kyiv’s proposal to extend the Easter ceasefire.

Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson told reporters in Moscow on Tuesday that there were no concrete plans for negotiations on halting strikes against civilian targets, but that the Russian president was willing to discuss this directly with Ukraine if Kyiv was removed “certain obstacles”.