Russia’s President Vladimir Putin speaks during a press conference following the Russia-Africa summit in Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 29, 2023. (Reuters via TASS)

He said an African peace initiative and a Chinese one could be a basis for finding peace, adding that it was hard to implement a cease-fire when the Ukrainian army was on the offensive.

Ukraine and Russia have previously said they will not come to the negotiating table without certain preconditions.

Ukraine wants its borders as they were in 1991 to be reinstated, something the Kremlin is deeply opposed to.

Moscow argues instead that for negotiations to take place, Kyiv would have to accept its "new territorial reality".

Putin told Saturday’s press conference that there were no plans to intensify actions on the Ukrainian front for now.