Russian President told Steve Witkoff during a meeting in St. Petersburg earlier this month that Moscow could give up its claims on the areas of the four Ukrainian regions partially occupied that remain under Kiev's control.

Speculation abounds after a report suggested Putin could be ready to abandon plans to absorb Ukrainian regions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed on Monday bilateral talks with Ukraine for the first time in years, and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv was prepared for any discussion to halt attacks on civilian targets.