Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed proposals for peace talks with Russia in Istanbul on Thursday, saying his country is "ready to meet" Russian representatives.
After mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump and European leaders, Vladimir Putin suggested the warring countries meet to agree on a potential ceasefire.
It comes after Sir Keir Starmer and European leaders travelled to the Ukrainian capital to meet with Zelensky, where they threatened the Kremlin with fresh sanctions if Russia failed to comply with an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting on Monday.
Trump has said it was "a potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine" and he would "work with both sides to make sure it happens".
Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed proposals for peace talks with Russia in Istanbul from Thursday, saying his country is 'ready to meet' Russian representatives
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Zelensky said: "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.
"There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day.
"We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire - full, lasting, and reliable - starting tomorrow, May 12th, and Ukraine is ready to meet."
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Sir Keir Starmer and European leaders travelled to the Ukrainian capital to meet with Zelensky
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Speaking at the Kremlin in the early hours of Sunday, the Russian President laid the groundwork for face-to-face negotiations on May 15.
Putin did not directly address the 30-day ceasefire proposal but instead offered to restart peace talks that Russia and Ukraine held in 2022.
The Russian leader invited delegates from Ukraine to 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 Ukraine and Russia to "eliminate the root causes of the conflict" and "to achieve the restoration of a long-term, lasting peace".
Vladimir Putin laid the groundwork for face-to-face negotiations on May 15
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Putin said: "It was not Russia that broke off negotiations in 2022.
"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."
