Key facts
- Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated Putin is open to dialogue.
- Ukraine suspects Russia prefers a phone call to avoid a direct meeting.
- Kyiv insists only direct leader-level talks can yield meaningful decisions.
- Territorial issues remain a major obstacle to an agreement.
- Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. are scheduled for talks in Abu Dhabi in November.
The Kremlin has indicated Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a proposal that Kyiv officials suspect is a tactic to avoid a direct, in-person meeting. Ukraine insists that only a face-to-face discussion between the leaders can address the most critical issues in their ongoing conflict, including territorial demands and security guarantees. Such a meeting would be their first since December 2019.