Vladimir Putin proposes direct talks with Zelenskyy

Russian President Vladimir Putin has for the first time proposed direct peace talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.

Mr Putin has previously claimed he would only negotiate peace with Ukraine if the country held elections to form a new government, having repeatedly made false claims that Mr Zelensky is an illegitimate leader despite his election in 2019, reports Independent.Co.UK.

The Russian autocrat has suggested face-to-face talks for the first time since Russia's invasion in February 2022, with Donald Trump's efforts to broker a quick ceasefire deal have failed to bear fruit.

Mr Trump said Russia and Ukraine can do "big business" with Washington if they reach a deal. "Hopefully Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week," the US president wrote on Truth Social over the weekend.

It comes as representatives from Ukraine, the UK, France and the US were set to meet in London on Wednesday to continue talks on a potential ceasefire.

While Mr Zelensky did not directly respond to Mr Putin's proposal, he emphasized in his nightly video address that Ukraine "was ready for any conversation" that would stop strikes on civilians.

"Actions always speak louder than words," he posted on X.

A Russian journalist facing up to a decade in prison for criticizing the army has escaped house arrest and is wanted by police, Russian state media has reported.

Ekaterina Barabash, 63, was arrested in February on suspicion of spreading false information about the Russian military on social media.

Authorities were alerted to her disappearance on 13 April by an electronic monitoring system, AFP cited Tass state news agency as saying.
"The accused has been declared wanted," the Moscow branch of Russia's federal penitentiary service said according to Tass.

Barabash had been critical of the army while writing for multiple news outlets, and on Facebook accused them of having "razed whole cities to the ground".

Criticising the army and its operations in Ukraine was made illegal shortly after Moscow's invasion began, and authorities have launched thousands of cases against those it deemed critical.

>>Agency