Zelenskyy welcomes Putin’s talk of peace but says ceasefire must come first

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a ceasefire must be agreed before peace talks can begin. Picture: Petr David Josek/AP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is pleased to see Russia is finally engaging with finding an end to the war, but insisted there must be a ceasefire before peace talks can start.

He was speaking after Russian leader Vladimir Putin effectively rejected a ceasefire proposal but instead called for the resumption of direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, “without preconditions”.