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,

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday called an “Easter truce” in the war on Ukraine, claiming Moscow would stop “all military operations” until Monday in the first break from Russian hostilities since his forces invaded more than three years ago. The truce will begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday and last through 12 a.m. on Monday, Putin said.