Turkey says it is ready to host direct talks between Russia and Ukraine aimed at reaching a ceasefire and a permanent peace. Russia's President Vladimir Putin has proposed direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul as early as this Thursday, but Putin did not agree to a 30-day ceasefire that would have started on Monday. That was the demand from the leaders of Germany, Poland, France and the UK, who travelled to Kyiv for talks with President Zelenskyy. The allies threatened Russia with