MOSCOW/KYIV – Discussions in Europe on the need for dialogue with Russia were a positive development, though the situation is still at an initial stage, according to the Kremlin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, while responding to questions on a potential negotiation mediator between Russia and Europe on Saturday, said he would prefer former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder for such a role. Putin noted that Europeans should choose their own leader, one they trust and who has not made hostile remarks against Russia.

"It is noteworthy that there is growing talk in Europe about the need for dialogue with Russia," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state media RIA Novosti on Monday. "We welcome this; it is a positive development, but we are still only at the beginning. We will see how things develop from here."

Earlier, European Council President Antonio Costa said he was holding talks with EU leaders on preparations for negotiations with Russia once "the right moment arrives".

ALSO READ: Kremlin: Russia seeking to achieve goals in Ukraine through peace deal

'23,800 ceasefire violations by Ukraine'

Also on Monday, Moscow accused Kyiv of breaching a declared three-day ceasefire, claiming 23,802 violations across Russia's special military operation zone.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukrainian armed formations carried out strikes using unmanned aerial vehicles and shelled Russian military positions.

"Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian forces launched 12 assault attempts and conducted 767 bombardments against Russian positions using multiple launch rocket systems, field artillery and mortars. They also launched 6,905 drone strikes," the ministry said in a statement.

ALSO READ: Russia, Ukraine accuse each other of violating three-day ceasefire

Ukrainian forces also targeted civilian facilities in Russia's Belgorod Region with 18 drones, leaving two residents injured.

Meanwhile, Russian troops responded in kind to the actions of Ukrainian forces, delivering return fire on enemy multiple launch rocket systems, artillery and mortar positions, and neutralizing enemy command posts and drone launch sites, according to the Russian side. Russian air defense systems shot down 85 fixed-wing drones along the front line.

Ukraine, US discuss possible top meeting 

In another development, Ukraine and the United States have discussed the possibility of a leaders-level meeting on ways to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

The issue was raised during a recent visit of Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, to the United States, Zelensky said.

"Possible formats for meetings and negotiations at the level of leaders to end the war were also discussed in America," he wrote on social media Telegram after a meeting with Umerov.