Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday he is open to the possibility of bilateral talks with Ukraine for the first time in years, as pressure from the United States builds on both sides to agree to a peace deal.

To initiate peace talks, Ukraine insists on a complete ceasefire, while Russia, for the first time, allows the possibility of direct dialogue with Kyiv. At the same time, the United States advocates for freezing the conflict and believes that both sides should be prepared for territorial compromises.

Russian President Vladimir Putin floated the idea of direct peace talks with Ukraine for the first time since March 2022 amid mounting U.S. pressure on both Moscow and Kyiv to engage.