Putin breaks silence over U.S.-backed plan to end war in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that his country is ready for quote serious discussions to end the war in Ukraine. However, he added that fighting would only stop when Ukrainian troops withdraw from key areas. Putin said the current USbacked peace plan can become the basis for future agreements.Now, that draft plan appears to have Ukraine's tenative backing. US special envoy Steve Wickoff is scheduled to travel to Moscow for talks next. ...