Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered bilateral talks with Kiev for the first time in years and said he was open to new truces after a one-day Easter truce, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Kiev was sending a delegation to London for meetings with the US and other Western countries on Wednesday.
The talks in London are a follow-up to a meeting in Paris last week, where the US and European countries discussed ways to end the more than three-year war.
Putin told Russian state television that fighting had resumed after a surprise 30-hour Easter ceasefire he unilaterally announced on Saturday.
Both sides have accused the other of violating the ceasefire Putin, which Kiev described as a trick from the very beginning.
Zelensky said that his country stands by its proposal to stop attacks on civilian objects and is ready for any form of dialogue to achieve it, Reuters reported.
"Ukraine stands by its proposal not to strike at least civilian objects. And we expect a clear answer from Moscow," Zelensky said tonight in his regular video address. "We are ready for any conversation on how to achieve this," the Ukrainian leader added.
Zelensky pointed out that the consultations scheduled for Wednesday with American and European officials in London "have the main task of insisting on an unconditional ceasefire. This should be the starting point," Zelensky stressed.
The talks in London are a follow-up to a meeting in Paris last week, where the United States and European countries discussed ways to end the more than three-year-old war, Reuters notes.
Washington has said it would welcome an extension of the ceasefire. Zelensky, who called for it to be extended to a 30-day ceasefire on civilian targets, said that the continued Russian attacks during yesterday's ceasefire show that Moscow intends to prolong the war.
The Russian president said that Moscow is open to any peace initiatives and expects the same from Kiev.
"When the president said that it is possible to discuss the issue of not striking civilian targets, including bilaterally, the president had in mind negotiations and discussions with the Ukrainian side," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media.
Zelensky did not mention Putin's statements about bilateral talks in his comments to "Ex", but announced the Ukrainian delegation for the talks in London.
"Ukraine, Britain, France and the United States - we are ready to move forward as constructively as possible, just as we have done before, to achieve an unconditional ceasefire, followed by the establishment of a genuine and lasting peace," the Ukrainian head of state wrote, adding that he had a good discussion with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The British Prime Minister supports Kiev's call for a complete ceasefire amid continued Russian attacks on Ukraine despite Moscow's promise of an Easter truce, DPA reported.
A Downing Street spokesman confirmed that Starmer had spoken to Zelensky on Monday and that the British Prime Minister had stressed his "ironclad" commitment to Ukraine. Plans to form a "coalition of the willing", led by Britain and France, were also discussed.
Starmer said that "The United Kingdom supports Ukraine's calls for Russia to commit to a full ceasefire and that now is the time for Putin to show that he is serious about ending his brutal war," the British spokesman added.
Earlier in the day, Zelensky wrote on the social network "Ex" that his conversation with Starmer had been "good and comprehensive".
Zelensky said that his forces had been instructed to continue to mirror the actions of the Russian army.
"The nature of Ukraine's actions will remain symmetrical: a ceasefire will be met with a ceasefire, and Russian strikes will be met with our own in defense. "Action always speaks louder than words," he said in "Ex."
US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that Washington could withdraw from peace talks altogether if the parties do not make more progress within a few days. On Sunday, Trump expressed optimism that the parties will make a breakthrough "this week."
Russia has not yet backed down from its demands, including that Ukraine cede all land it claims it has annexed and accept permanent neutrality. Kiev says that would be tantamount to surrender and would leave it defenseless if Moscow attacks again.