Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov stated in an interview with the Vesti news agency that Vladimir Putin is ready to respond to a potential telephone call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to Ushakov, the Russian leader has «never refused talks» with his Ukrainian counterpart and, in his assessment, «will certainly answer» if such a call is made.
Call to Visit Moscow
In the same speech, Ushakov reiterated the Kremlin's previously stated position that Zelenskyy can personally arrive in Moscow to hold negotiations with Putin. «He sends signals through various sources. If he wants to talk so much, let him come,» the presidential aide said, referring to what he described as signals of readiness for dialogue coming from Kyiv. Ushakov did not name specific dates or formats for potential negotiations.
Position of the Office of the President of Ukraine
The Office of the President of Ukraine reacted restrainedly to the Kremlin's statements. They reported that Zelenskyy has no plans to call Putin for now. The Presidential Office also emphasized that key issues related to ending the war must be resolved at the level of heads of state, but a single phone call is not enough to reach agreements. Thus, Kyiv does not explicitly reject the very idea of high-level contacts, but points out the limitations of the telephone call format.
Context: Kremlin Contacts with the West
Ushakov's statements came against the backdrop of a series of telephone negotiations between Putin and European leaders. On October 27, a conversation took place between the Russian president, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, lasting about an hour and a half; according to Ukrainian sources, this contact was coordinated with Kyiv. On October 30, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Putin is ready to answer calls from the leaders of France and Germany, but answered evasively when asked about direct contact with the Ukrainian leadership, noting that «no one has called yet.» Thus, the Kremlin simultaneously emphasizes its openness to dialogue with both the West and Kyiv, without naming specific conditions or deadlines.
Limitations of the Format and Further Steps
At present, neither side has confirmed preparations for a telephone conversation or a personal meeting. The Kremlin formulates its position as a «readiness to answer» without initiating the call itself, while Kyiv points to the insufficiency of the telephone format for resolving key issues. Experts note that without intermediaries agreeing on specific negotiation parameters — agenda, guarantees, format — statements about «readiness to talk» remain at the level of rhetoric. According to diplomatic circles, the next signals regarding a possible shift in contacts between the two capitals may come in connection with ongoing negotiations involving European intermediaries.
