Ushakov: Putin Would Answer Phone Call From Zelensky

Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told Russian state television that Russian President Vladimir Putin would accept a direct phone call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky if Kyiv initiates it. Ushakov stated that Putin has never declined such bilateral talks with foreign heads of state. The remark comes after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed Zelensky is prepared for direct leader-level negotiations with Putin to tackle the war's toughest issues, specifically the territorial dispute.

Sybiha emphasized that Ukraine regards a meeting between Zelensky and Putin as crucial to break the diplomatic impasse and advance meaningful progress towards ending the conflict. Meanwhile, Ukraine's foreign minister emphasized that while working-level delegations can handle technical matters like confidence-building, prisoner swaps, and civilian safety, substantive political solutions pertaining to national sovereignty and borders necessitate direct engagement between heads of state.

Ushakov's comments align with diplomatic efforts for exploratory trilateral consultations between delegations from Ukraine, the US, and Russia, scheduled for the first half of November. Zelensky confirmed in Istanbul on Saturday that Kyiv is actively preparing for the three-way format, noting Turkey and European partners as potential venues, alongside Abu Dhabi and Switzerland.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed support for the increased diplomatic momentum, suggesting that securing safe maritime routes in the Black Sea could spark broader peace efforts. Ushakov said Moscow would consider resuming trilateral talks after Russia's Nov. 4 National Unity Day holiday, describing the upcoming session as exploratory.

The timing of potential talks also aligns with broader international gatherings, including a proposed meeting between Putin, US President Donald Trump, and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, set for Nov. 18-19. Ushakov noted that the outcomes of the Shenzhen summit would determine whether Putin agrees to attend the Group of 20 (G20) leaders' summit in Miami, Florida, on Dec. 14-15.