The spokesman for the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, confirmed that the possibility of a direct meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian Presidents was very welcome.

Peskov said: "No one excludes the possibility of a direct meeting between Putin and Zielinski, but before that it is necessary to be clear and specific what will be discussed between the two leaders and what results can be reached?"

Peskov refused to disclose or comment on what had been reached so far between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations engaged in negotiations, saying only Saturday that the negotiations were continuing and had not been interrupted and were now being conducted via video technology.

Russian news agency Tass, citing Turkish Foreign Minister Ould Chaush Oglu, said: "We strive to organize a summit between the two Presidents."

Chauch Oglo added: "In principle, Putin does not oppose this idea, which was expressed to the Turkish President during their telephone conversations. The Ukrainian side fully agrees with the idea. "

For his part, Turkish Foreign Minister Ould Ceauğlu told reporters Sunday that Turkey had asked Russia to help evacuate its nationals from the besieged town of Mariupol in Ukraine.