People cross an improvised path under a destroyed bridge while fleeing the town of Irpin, Ukraine, March 6, 2022. In Irpin, near Kyiv, a sea of people on foot and even in wheelbarrows trudged over the remains of a destroyed bridge to cross a river and leave the city. (OLEKSANDR RATUSHNIAK / AP)

MOSCOW – Russia and Ukraine will hold a third round of talks, likely on Monday, about ending hostilities. 

David Arakhamia, a Ukrainian delegation member and the parliamentary faction leader of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's party, confirmed in a social media post that new meetings will be held, but provided no details. 

According to Interfax news agency, Russian negotiator Leonid Slutsky said, "The third round really could take place in the coming days, possibly on Monday." 

Russia's TASS news agency quoted Slutsky as saying that in the second round, Ukraine had shown some openness to reaching an agreement. 

ALSO READ: Russia declares ceasefire in Ukraine for civilians evacuation

Since Russia launched the "special military operation" against its neighbor on Feb 24, Ukrainian and Russian delegations have had two rounds of talks. 

Putin informed Macron in detail about the provocation staged by Ukrainian radicals in the area of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant with the involvement of a sabotage group.

Kremlin

On Saturday, Ukraine said that the talks had not produced results, but that it would keep pursuing negotiations. 

President Putin on Sunday held a phone conversation with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, during which they discussed the situation in Ukraine. 

"Putin informed Macron in detail about the provocation staged by Ukrainian radicals in the area of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant with the involvement of a sabotage group. Attempts to blame the Russian military for this incident are part of a cynical propaganda campaign," the Kremlin said in a statement, adding that the physical and nuclear safety of the plant is well protected. 

Macron expressed to Putin his concerns over the nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine during Russia's military operation, French presidential palace the Elysee said in a press release after the phone conversation. 

On a proposal by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to hold a trilateral (IAEA-Russia-Ukraine) meeting in the Chernobyl zone to work out a mechanism for ensuring safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine, Putin said that this idea could be useful in general, but it would be worth considering holding such a meeting via teleconference or in a third country. 

The two heads of state discussed the evacuation of civilians. Putin pointed out that Kiev has not yet implemented the negotiated agreements on such a pressing humanitarian issue. Macron was again invited to work actively with the Kiev authorities on the latter's compliance with international humanitarian law. 

In a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the same day, Putin said the suspension of the special operation to protect Donbass is possible only if Ukraine stops fighting and complies with Russian demands. 

Putin confirmed Moscow's readiness for dialogue with Kyiv and its foreign partners, but he was aware of "Kyiv's attempts to delay the negotiations". 

The Ukrainian delegation should show a more constructive approach at the new meeting, Putin stressed. 

ALSO READ: Russia, Ukraine agree to organize humanitarian corridors

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Saturday that Zelensky's attempt to secure direct NATO assistance in the conflict was not helping the talks, but that Moscow was ready for a third round. 

Zelensky criticized NATO on Saturday for ruling out a no-fly zone over Ukraine, but Putin spoke of "colossal and catastrophic consequences not only for Europe but also the whole world" if it were to be established. 

"The current Ukrainian authorities must understand that if they continue to do what they are doing, they are putting in question the future of Ukrainian statehood," Putin warned on Saturday. 

Ukrainian man Yevgen Chornomordenko 34, carries his children after reunion with his family at the border crossing in Medyka, Poland, March 6, 2022. Chonomordenko had been waiting for 11 days on the Polish side of the border for this wife, Alina, and two children to arrive from the Ukrainian capital. (VISAR KRYEZIU / AP)

Russia and Ukraine agreed on Thursday on a ceasefire to open humanitarian corridors so civilians could leave areas of fighting, but it failed on Saturday amid fierce fighting in a number of cities. 

Clashing reports emerged on Saturday regarding the death of a Ukrainian identified by media as a member of the country's negotiating team with Russia. 

According to local media reports, Denis Kireev, who had been photographed participating in negotiations in Belarus in recent days, was killed by Ukrainian security forces during an attempt to arrest him. 

Kireev, the reports said, had been suspected of treason. 

A subsequent social media post by Ukraine's Defense Ministry confirmed Kireev's death but said he was an intelligence operative for Ukraine who died in the line of duty. 

Agencies contributed to this story.