Putin changes tune on talks with Zelensky ahead of London peace summit

 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, a factor that has frustrated US president Donald Trump’s efforts to broker a quick ceasefire deal.

The new statement from the Russian president came as representatives from Ukraine, the UK, France and the US were set to meet in London on Wednesday to continue talks on a potential ceasefire.

While Mr Zelensky did not directly respond to Mr Putin’s proposal, he emphasised in his nightly video address that Ukraine "was ready for any conversation" that would stop strikes on civilians.

“Actions always speak louder than words,” he posted on X.

Russia has resumed its aerial attacks on Ukraine after a 30-hour Easter truce, declared by Moscow over the weekend, which both sides accused each other of violating. At least three people were killed in a Russian strike in the southern Kherson region on Monday.

Trump to reveal proposed peace plan in 'next three days'

06:33 , Namita Singh

US president Donald Trump says he will reveal his proposed peace plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war later this week.

“I will be giving you a full detail over the next three days,” Mr Trump told reporters. “But we had very good meetings on Ukraine, Russia … We’ll see how that works.”

Among the terms included are a deployment of European peacekeeping forces to Ukraine, reported the New York Post citing a senior official from the Trump administration.

“The hard part is what does a security force look like – we’re calling that a ‘resiliency force,'” the official said.

Ukraine’s Catholics express hurt over late pope’s war stance

06:28 , Namita Singh

Worshippers coming out of a Catholic church service in the Ukrainian city of Lviv yesterday expressed sorrow at the death of Pope Francis, but also lingering hurt that the Roman Catholic pontiff had not taken Ukraine's side in its war with Russia.

The pontiff was quoted as saying in a 2024 interview with a Swiss broadcaster that Ukraine should have "the courage of the white flag", and sue for peace to end the conflict with Russia.

Those comments differed sharply from the view held by Ukraine's government, and its Western allies, that they have a moral imperative to defeat an unjust and unprovoked invasion by Russia.

"There were certain subjective judgments from his side, unfortunately," said Andriy Ben, a former fighter in the Ukrainian military, referring to Pope Francis.

"I am not going to comment on this," he said outside the church in Lviv. "I hope that the next pope will be wiser, more enlightened, and better."

Another worshipper coming out of the church, 57-year-old Oleh Yakymiak, said the late pontiff did much in his life that was good.

"We understand that the good things he did are so much bigger than the painful thing he did to us," said Mr Yakymiak.

US likely to meet Ukrainian officials in London for peace talks