Vladimir Putin has set a date for direct talks with Ukraine in a landmark late-night address from Moscow.
The Russian President has laid the groundwork for face-to-face negotiations on May 15 with the country his forces invaded three years ago.
Putin, 72, invited Ukrainian delegates to Turkey's largest city Istanbul for the talks - which he said should be aimed at achieving a durable peace and eliminating the root causes of the war.
He called on his neighbour to come together in a bid to "eliminate the root causes of the conflict" and "to achieve the restoration of a long-term, lasting peace".
PICTURED: Vladimir Putin makes late-night address and calls on Ukraine to attend talks on May 15
REUTERS
"It was not Russia that broke off negotiations in 2022," Putin said, referring to talks which failed shortly after his invasion that year.
"It was Kyiv. Nevertheless, we are proposing that Kyiv resume direct negotiations without any preconditions.
"We offer the Kyiv authorities to resume negotiations already on Thursday, in Istanbul."
"Our proposal, as they say, is on the table.
"The decision is now up to the Ukrainian authorities and their curators, who are guided, it seems, by their personal political ambitions, and not by the interests of their peoples," he added in a veiled swipe at the West.
PEACE IN UKRAINE? READ MORE:
'The decision is now up to the Ukrainian authorities and their curators,' Putin said
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His remarks came just hours after Sir Keir Starmer joined Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Friedrich Merz and Poland's Donald Tusk in Kyiv.
Following their meeting, the quintet released a joint statement urging Russia to "stop obstructing efforts to secure an enduring peace".
In it, they pledged to "ratchet up pressure on Russia's war machine" until Putin agreed to a lasting halt in hostilites.
And they stated clearly that "the bloodshed must end" and Russia must stop its illegal invasion.
Putin's remarks came just hours after Sir Keir Starmer joined Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Friedrich Merz and Poland's Donald Tusk in Kyiv
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In response, Putin's spin doctor Dmitry Peskov said Russia would "have to think this through" - but said "trying to pressure us is quite useless".
The European five - backed by US President Donald Trump - also called for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump had previously warned that if any temporary treaty was violated, America and its allies will "impose further sanctions" on Moscow.
"As President, I will stay committed to securing Peace between Russia and Ukraine, together with the Europeans, and a Lasting Peace it will be! This ceasefire must ultimately build toward a Peace Agreement," Trump said.
