Russia's Putin discusses ending conflict in eastern Ukraine with president Zelenskiy

Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed settling the long-running conflict in eastern Ukraine with the country’s new president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in their first telephone conversation initiated by Kiev.

The two leaders held the conversation on Thursday, according to the Kremlin, which said the discussions centered on the years-long conflict in eastern Ukraine.

They also discussed the return of prisoners. Zelenskiy said he would try to free Ukrainians imprisoned in Russia. These include 24 Ukrainian sailors, among others.

Moscow and Kiev agreed that such consultations would continue at expert level, the Kremlin said in a statement.

A conflict has erupted between the two countries since 2014, when the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea rejoined Russia following a referendum with more than 90 percent of participants voting in favor of the move.

The West brands the reunification as annexation of Ukrainian land by Russia.

In siding with Ukraine, the EU, and some other Western countries have followed Washington's lead in leveling several rounds of sanctions against the Moscow.

On Monday, Zelensky proposed holding talks with Putin to discuss the conflict in a meeting in Minsk, Belarus. 

“I suggest the following line-up for talks: me, you, US President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Theresa May, German Chancellor Angela Merkel [and] French President Emmanuel Macron," Zelensky said in a social media video address.

"Let's discuss who Crimea belongs to and who isn't in the Donbass region," he said.

In a response to the proposal, Putin said earlier on Thursday that Moscow is ready for "any kind of talks" on the Ukrainian issue.

Belarus — a close ally of Russia — also said that it would be ready to host a new round of talks between Kiev and Moscow.

SS