Kremlin says Putin would take Zelensky's call and backs a trilateral first round of talks

Putin's willingness to talk

Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said on 1 November that Vladimir Putin would answer if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called him. Ushakov based this on the claim that Putin has never refused negotiations. His remarks were reported by Interfax and carried by Greek outlets.

A trilateral format first

Ushakov said the initial round of any possible talks on Ukraine should take place in a trilateral format involving Russia, the United States and Kyiv. He linked this to working contacts Moscow maintains with the Americans, which he said made it logical for at least the first round to include those three parties. Asked whether European countries should join the negotiations, he answered by restating that the first round should be trilateral.

What the reports leave out

Neither report gives a date, venue or agenda for any meeting. Neither reports a reply from Kyiv or Washington to Ushakov's remarks. The account rests entirely on Ushakov's statements as relayed by Interfax.