Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he is waiting for a clear response from Russia about whether it would accept a cease-fire on striking civilian targets.
Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address on April 21 that Ukraine stood by its proposal for an end to attacks on civilian targets and was ready for any form of discussion to achieve it.
"Ukraine stands by its offer...not to strike civilian infrastructure. And we expect a clear answer from Moscow," Zelenskyy said. "We are ready for any conversation on how to ensure this."
Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier on April 21 proposed bilateral talks with Ukraine for the first time since the early days of the war.
Zelenskyy did not respond directly to Putin's proposal but said Ukraine "was ready for any conversation" about a cease-fire that would stop strikes on civilians.
"There is an obvious, simplest, and most reliable way: stop missile and long-range drone attacks," Zelenskyy said. "That alone would automatically ensure the safety of all civilian infrastructure."
SEE ALSO: Zelenskyy Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children In New International CampaignUkraine and Russia are facing pressure from the United States to make progress on negotiations to end the war.
Ukraine will take part in talks with the US and European countries on April 23 in London, Zelenskyy said. The talks will have a primary task: "to push for an unconditional ceasefire. This must be the starting point," he said.
Both sides said fighting had resumed after an Easter cease-fire, which Putin announced unilaterally on April 19.
Ukrainian authorities reported dozens of Russian missile and drone attacks on April 21, while a Ukrainian drone strike was reported in Russia’s Belgorod region.
Strikes were reported in Kyiv and other Ukrainian towns and cities. A man was reportedly injured by shelling in Kherson.
Russian forces attacked Ukraine's northeastern region, killing one person in a border village, according to regional prosecutors. The report on Telegram said a Russian drone struck and killed a man on a scooter in the village of Ivashki.
Russian forces also launched a late night drone attack on residential areas of Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa, triggering fires and damaging many apartments, local officials said early on April 22.
A day earlier US President Donald Trump voiced hope that an agreement would be reached between the two countries this week. Trump told reporters at the White House on April 21 that he plans to comment on the war in Ukraine and mediation efforts in the next three days.
He made the comment in response to a question about whether the United States had proposed that Ukraine recognize Crimea as part of Russia. Russia occupied the peninsula in 2014 and then annexed it in violation of international law.
"So I will be giving you a full detail over the next three days," Trump said. "But we had very good meetings on Ukraine, Russia," he added without providing details.
In his comments earlier on April 21, Putin said Russia was open to any peace initiatives and expected the same from Kyiv.
"We have always talked about this, that we have a positive attitude toward any peace initiatives. We hope that representatives of the Kyiv regime will feel the same way," Putin said on state TV.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when Putin said that it was possible to discuss the issue of not striking civilian targets, he meant bilateral negotiations. There have been no direct talks between the two sides since the early weeks after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
"President Putin and the Russian side remain open to seeking a peaceful settlement. We are continuing to work with the American side and, of course, we hope that this work will yield results," Peskov told reporters.
Peskov declined to comment on the prospects of a deal this week. But he welcomed a comment by US envoy Keith Kellogg saying Ukraine would not be able to join NATO.