Russia and Ukraine to hold direct negotiations on Thursday for ceasefire deal

Russia and Ukraine are set to hold negotiations in Istanbul on Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed direct talks with Ukraine in a late-night address on Saturday, aiming at bringing peace, and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by saying he is ready to meet Putin "personally."

His response came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday demanded that Ukraine agree to Putin's offer of talks.