Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is ready to make “some compromise” on his demand that a ceasefire takes place before any talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin – as long as some security guarantees for Ukraine are established.

Geneva, Istanbul and Budapest have been put forward as potential locations - but bilateral talks still remain a long way off.

If anyone could convince him to change his look, it would be me,” said Viktor Anisimov, who was working to transform the Ukrainian president’s look even before it was questioned at a White House meeting.

The Ukrainian president’s outfit during his visit to the White House Monday reflects a change in approach since his disastrous meeting with US President Trump earlier this year.

The president's sudden openness to offering NATO-style security guarantees to Ukraine has drawn a sharp rebuke from his hardcore allies.

Vladimir Putin has reportedly said he is ready to meet Zelesnky provided all issues relating to the settlement of the conflict between Moscow and Kiev are thoroughly worked out

Doing so would require the Russian leader to “accept the failure of sitting down with a president he considers a joke from a country that doesn’t exist”

The Ukrainian leader returned with a U.S. commitment to participate in security guarantees for Kyiv in a postwar settlement.