Leaders in the U.S., Russia and Ukraine have softened their positions on the prospect of negotiating an end to Moscow's full-scale war against Kyiv in the last week as momentum for talks continues to build.

When Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready to negotiate with Vladimir Putin in order to end the war, it wasn't the first time Ukraine's leader announced his readiness to talk to Moscow. In fact, the two sides already tried to negotiate in the early days of the war.

The Kremlin said contacts between the U.S. and Russia had taken place, the first time Moscow has hinted the two countries are discussing a potential plan to end fighting in Ukraine.