Russian President Vladimir Putin, in sharp remarks, accused Ukraine of carrying out terrorist attacks against Russia’s civilian infrastructure, saying that these actions show Kyiv no longer has any desire for peace.

Putin’s comments came after Ukraine’s attack on the strategic Crimean Bridge.

The Russian president said: "This fact confirms our concerns that already illegitimate Kyiv regime that once seized power is degenerating into a terrorist organization, and its sponsors are becoming accomplices of terrorists. At the same time they (Ukraine) ask for ceasefire for 30 or 60 days, they ask for a summit, but how is it possible to make such meetings in these conditions?"

In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during a press conference in Kyiv, proposed a temporary ceasefire with Russia, suggesting that it could pave the way for a meeting between the leaders of the two countries.

Zelensky also mentioned that a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine might take place on Saturday and Sunday, the 7th and 8th of June this year.

He added: "We offer a meeting any day starting from Monday. Why ceasefire before leaders meet? Because we can meet and if there is no mutual understanding, if there is not desire for de-escalation, if there is no desire and vision how to put an end to it, then ceasefire will be over the same day, it can be initiated unilaterally by Russians. Please feel free to do so. If President Trump supports such an idea, we will be grateful. President Erdogan, I am sure, will support it too because during our conversation he said he wanted a meeting between four: President Erdogan, President Trump, myself and Putin. We are ready for such a meeting any day."

The peace talks held last week in Istanbul, attended by representatives of both countries, did not result in significant progress toward resolving the three-year-long Ukraine war and only led to an exchange of proposals and a preliminary agreement on a broad prisoner exchange.