Putin says Russia does not reject peace talks with Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he does not reject the idea of peace talks on Ukraine.

Speaking after meeting African leaders in St Petersburg, he says an African and Chinese initiative could serve as a basis for finding peace.

President Putin also says it was hard to implement a ceasefire when the Ukrainian army was on the offensive.

Ukraine and Russia have previously said they will not come to the negotiating table without certain preconditions.

Ukraine wants its borders as they were in 1991 to be reinstated, something the Kremlin is deeply opposed to.

[Source: BBC News]