French President Emmanuel Macron considered Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal for direct negotiations with Ukraine a "first step, but not enough," after Kyiv and its allies demanded an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

"An unconditional ceasefire is not preceded by negotiations," Macron told reporters shortly after arriving in Poland by train from the Ukrainian capital.

He added that Putin's proposal to hold direct talks in Turkey on May 15 shows he is "looking for a path (to a settlement), but still wants to buy time," according to Agence France-Presse.