Russia-Ukraine talks have reportedly made 'some progress'

Citing Interfax, Bloomberg reported that Leonid Slutsky, who was also one of Russia's negotiators: "According to my personal expectations, this progress can elevate in a few coming days into a mutual position of both delegations and signing of documents."

Meanwhile, Mykailo Podolyak, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff, said on Telegram that "there is dialogue" and that Moscow had advanced from issuing ultimatums to carefully listening.

U.S. deputy secretary of state, Wendy Sherman, also appeared to be cautiously optimistic, telling Sunday on Fox News that: "We are seeing some signs of a willingness to have real serious negotiations."

Contacts between Kyiv and Moscow were reported at the weekend to now be ongoing on a nearly daily basis.

Last Friday, Russian President, Vladimir Putin, reportedly sadly that his country's diplomats had seen "certain positive shifts" in talks with their Ukrainian counterparts.