New Delhi, April 22 -- For the first time since the start of the war between Ukraine and Russia, President Vladimir Putin on Monday proposed bilateral talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. The development comes as the United States, Ukraine and some European allies gather in London to hold talks for a deal to halt Russia's full-scale invasion.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg are expected to meet with the foreign ministers and national security advisers from France, Germany, the UK and Ukraine in London.

While Vladimir Putin has proposed bilateral talks with his counterpart in Ukraine, the latter has not directly addressed it but said it was eager for an unco...