Vladimir Putin has agreed to speak to Donald Trump, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. On Thursday evening, US President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, met the Russian leader in Moscow.

On Friday morning, Mr Peskov said Mr Witkoff and Putin had agreed on talks between the two presidents. The timing of the call, however, has yet to be agreed. Mr Peskov told reporter this morning: “But at the same time, after Mr Witkoff conveys all the information received in Moscow to the attention of his head of state, then we will determine the timing of the conversation.” Speaking about a possible ceasefire, the Kremlin spokesman added: “Of course there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic.”

The announcement comes less than 24 hours after the Russian President agreed in principle to a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine

Speaking in a press conference alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin said that: We agree with the proposals for the ceasefire, but our position is based on the assumption that the ceasefire would lead to long-term peace, something that would remove the initial reasons for the crisis”.

Last night, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said Putin was “afraid” of outright rejecting the 30-day ceasefire plan agreed upon by Kyiv and Washington delegates.

It has been suggested that Russia could make unrealistic demands of Ukraine that they know will never be accepted to avoid entering into a ceasefire.

Despite this, Ukraine has begun preparations for a ceasefire with a team being formed to monitor any pause in fighting, although the possibility remains a long way off of reality.

Speaking to journalists, Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said: “We have already begun to form a national team that will develop appropriate procedures to properly monitor a possible ceasefire.”

Meanwhile, the Kremlin has denied reports that it refused to meet with the United States envoy for the war in Ukraine.

Eyebrows were raised when it was announced that long-time Trump fixer Mr Witkoff would head to Moscow instead of Keith Kellogg who was appointed into the role earlier this year.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “It would be probably absurd to think that the Russian side would meddle into internal matters of the US.

“We don’t have even a slightest intention [to do so]. And we actually say that all contacts should be based on mutual respect.

“And proceeding from a mutual respect, we of course won’t meddle in the internal matters of the US.

“It’s up to them who to appoint and who not. So no, I can’t confirm it all.”