Putin announces readiness to meet Zelenskyy outside Russia for first time

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced for the first time his readiness to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a third country outside Russian territory, according to reports from Al Jazeera English.

The statement represents a notable shift in Moscow's position, as Putin had not previously shown flexibility regarding direct meetings with his Ukrainian counterpart since the start of the Russian military operation in February 2022.

The statement came in the broader context of ongoing diplomatic efforts to find solutions to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Putin did not specify a date or location for the potential meeting, but the indication suggests a relative openness from Russia to direct dialogue.