OMM Newsroom
Russian President Vladimir Putin has never refused talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and would answer a call from him, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov said in an interview published on Sunday, according to Anadolu Agency.
Speaking to a Vesti journalist, Ushakov said Putin remained open to direct communication with his Ukrainian counterpart. “I think he will answer, of course. Putin has not once refused talks,” he said.
Ushakov also said Zelenskyy was welcome to travel to Moscow for talks with Putin. “He is sending signals through various sources. He wants to talk, and if he wants to talk so much, let him come,” Ushakov said.
Kremlin proposes trilateral talks
On negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine, Ushakov said the initial rounds should involve Russia, Ukraine and the United States.
He suggested European representatives could join at a later stage, but said the first meetings should be held in a trilateral format. “We have working contacts with the Americans. So it is logical, of course, that at least the first rounds of talks be held in a trilateral format,” he said.
Russia-Africa summit
Separately, Ushakov said those seeking to disrupt the Russia-Africa summit had failed, without providing further details.
The third Russia-Africa summit, held in Moscow for the first time, concluded on Oct. 29. It brought together delegations from 48 African countries, including 22 heads of state.
The previous summit was held in St. Petersburg in 2023, while the inaugural meeting took place in Sochi in 2019.
