Ukraine-Russia war LIVE – Putin has lost interest in peace talks & wants to ‘win big’ after Moskva warship ‘humilation’

VLADIMIR Putin is not interested in diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine war and wants to gain as much territory as possible, a new report claims. Three people briefed on conversations with the Russian president told the Financial Times that Putin was seriously considering a peace deal with Ukraine last month. One person briefed on the talks told the publication: “Putin sincerely believes in the nonsense he hears on [Russian] television and he wants to win big.” His approach to the talks became harder after the sinking of Russian warship Moskva. Another source added: “Putin was against signing anything… after the Moskva he doesn’t look like a winner, because it was humiliating.” It comes as President Zelenskyy again called for a meeting with Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, in an effort ‘to end the war’. “I think that whoever started this war will be able to end it,” he told a news conference at a metro station in the heart of the Ukrainian capital. He was “not afraid to meet” Putin if it would lead to a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, he added. “From the beginning, I have insisted on talks with the Russian president,” said Zelensky. It’s not that I want (to meet him), it’s that I have to meet him so as to settle this conflict by diplomatic means. We have confidence in our partners, but we have no confidence in Russia,” he added. Follow our Russia-Ukraine live blog below for up-to-the-minute updates…