Russia says Ukraine must remove legal hurdles for talks on halting strikes on civilian facilities

Russia has indicated a willingness to engage in direct negotiations with Ukraine but says certain legal hurdles must be addressed before formal talks can begin.

On Tuesday, local time, Russia's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced that President Vladimir Putin is open to discussing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's proposal to halt attacks on civilian infrastructure.

However, he said Kyiv must take steps to clear the way for talks.

Peskov mentioned a 2022 decree by Zelenskyy that prohibits negotiations with Putin, saying that this was a significant legal impediment.

No specific plans for direct talks have been put forward amid mounting international pressure for renewed negotiations to resolve the conflict, including threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to withdraw from mediation efforts unless progress is made.