New Delhi, Aug. 5 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin may be open to a direct meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to the Kremlin - but only if unspecified conditions are met.

"Putin does not rule out the possibility of holding such a meeting," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian media on Monday. He added the meeting could occur only "if the necessary work is done at the expert level and the appropriate distance is overcome," without offering any details.

The vague offer comes months after Putin reportedly cancelled a planned sit-down with Zelensky in Turkey, which had been encouraged by US President Donald Trump as part of his renewed push for a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials rejected the ...