KIEV -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that his country plans to take the first steps towards peace in the near future.

"The first steps on the path to a just and lasting peace are incredibly important. We want to move forward speedily, in cooperation with the United States and all of Europe," Zelensky said on social media platform X.

Meanwhile, Andriy Yermak, head of the President's Office, announced that he had discussed steps towards peace in a phone conversation with US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.

"We exchanged views on security issues and the coordination of positions within the framework of bilateral relations between Ukraine and the US," Yermak said on Telegram.

He added that Ukrainian and US teams are set to meet soon to "continue this important work."