HNewsWire-After Zelensky said he was willing to discuss Ukraine's "neutral status," Russia is ready to send a team to Minsk for talks. The Kremlin claimed only moments ago that Putin has agreed to convene talks after Zelensky said he was willing to discuss Ukraine's "neutral status" (i.e., not joining NATO). Here are the most recent Reuters headlines:

PUTIN HAS AGREED TO ORGANIZE NEGOTIATIONS, KREMLIN SAYS, AFTER ZELENSKIY SAYED HE WAS READY TO DISCUSS UKRAINIAN NEUTRALITY.
KREMLIN SAYS THE UKRAINIANS HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROPOSAL TO HOLD TALKS IN MINSK.
PUTIN HAS CALLED BELARUS' LUKASHENKO TO ORGANIZE MINSK TALKS WITH UKRAINE, KREMLIN SAYS.
PUTIN HAS AGREED TO ORGANIZE NEGOTIATIONS, KREMLIN SAYS, AFTER ZELENSKIY SAYED HE WAS READY TO DISCUSS UKRAINIAN NEUTRALITY.

After Putin adviser Dmitry Peskov transmitted the offer of discussions in Minsk, the capital of Russian ally Belarus, the currency and Russian markets, as well as US and European stocks, continued gains. The Kremlin also points out that, after first proposing negotiations in Warsaw, Ukraine cut off communication.

Separately, the Kremlin said that Ukrainian nationalists have placed missile systems in residential areas of major cities, describing the action as "very hazardous."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov previously stated that Moscow will only engage in negotiations if Ukraine's army surrenders. "We're ready for talks at any time," Lavrov said in Moscow, "as soon as the Ukrainian military forces respond to our president's request, cease resisting, and lay down their guns."

While Zelenskiy called for talks with Putin, there was no sign that Ukraine would comply with Russian demands for submission. There was also no sign of the combat coming to an end. As Ukraine's military forces reported their battalions were battling Russian equipment to the north, sirens advised Kyiv civilians to seek cover.

Russian planes, according to Zelenskiy, are striking residential areas in the city. With bullets and explosions heard around the city, Mayor Vitali Klitschko declared it had "entered the defense phase." "The enemy has already arrived in Kyiv," he declared.

According to China Central Television, Chinese President Xi Jinping informed Putin in a phone call earlier on Friday that he backed discussions between Russia and Ukraine. Putin was quoted as indicating that he was willing to hold high-level discussions.

Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, called Zelenskiy and his government "puppets." Putin has stated that he intends to replace Ukraine's government, which he refers to as a "junta." Despite the offer of discussions, the attack on Ukraine continues, according to Zakharova, in order to achieve the country's "de-militarization."

In a speech, Zelenskiy stated that Ukraine is not frightened "to talk about neutral status," but went on to seek security assurances and claim that the country's fate was in the hands of its soldiers. He previously stated that his intelligence agencies have named him as Russia's top target, but that he will remain in Kyiv with his family. "They aim to ruin Ukraine politically by assassinating the president," he explained. "This could be the last time you see me alive," Ukraine's president told EU leaders in a video conversation Friday night. "They are coming for me, but I am staying," Axios reported (of course, the former leader of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani also told everyone he was staying right up until he disappeared).

The Ukrainian president sounded furious with Mario Draghi, Italy's Prime Minister, blaming the former ECB chief for seemingly undermining or criticizing the fact that Zelensky did not show up for the conversation they promised to conduct this morning. 'Apparently selling Gucci loafers to oligarchs is more of a priority than hitting back at Putin,' according to reports, Draghi had successfully secured a carve out for Italian luxury goods from the EU's package of economic sanctions against Nato, which an EU diplomat reportedly said, 'Apparently selling Gucci loafers to oligarchs is more of a priority than hitting back at Putin.'

Italy, along with Germany, Hungary, and Cyprus, was one of the countries that refused to consent to Russia's expulsion from SWIFT.

Even as its soldiers used their military advantage to shut in on Ukraine's capital and its vulnerable leadership, Russia claimed it was prepared to seek negotiations with Kyiv.

With the war in its second day, the Kremlin said that President Vladimir Putin was ready to approve talks with Ukraine on the country's prospective "neutral status." After Putin adviser Dmitry Peskov transmitted the offer of negotiations in Minsk, Belarus' capital, the currency and Russian markets rose further.

Interfax says that Russia is preparing to send a mission to Minsk for Ukraine negotiations, sending US share futures soaring.

"As you know, President of Ukraine Zelensky expressed his readiness to discuss Ukraine's neutral status today," Russian press secretary Dmitry Peskov said earlier today, according to Interfax.

"At first, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the operation's goal was to assist the LNR and DNR, especially by demilitarizing and denazifying Ukraine. And this is, in fact, an important aspect of the neutral position."

"In response to Zelensky's suggestion, Vladimir Putin is prepared to send a Russian delegation to Minsk, consisting of members from the Ministries of Defense, Foreign Affairs, and the Presidential Administration, to negotiate with the Ukrainian mission."

Equities futures in the United States reacted almost instantaneously...

The Nasdaq's losses for the week (post-Putin) have been wiped by this move...

The Ruble is surging, recouping nearly all of its losses from the previous two days...

For the time being, reactions in other markets (crude, gold, and bonds) are all subdued.