President Putin is prepared to speak with Ukrainian President Zelensky if he calls the aim of establishing peace
Moscow, Russia | November 2, 2026 | The Global Journal
Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky if the Ukrainian leader calls him with the aim of establishing peace. The message from Moscow comes as preparations are underway for a possible resumption of peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine under US mediation.
On Sunday (November 1), Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Putin would certainly take Zelensky’s call if the Ukrainian president reached out. According to Ushakov, Putin has never refused negotiations. The British newspaper The Telegraph reported the development.
Peace talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States are expected to resume under US mediation in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, later this month. Putin’s latest remarks are being viewed as a possible new indication of diplomatic engagement ahead of those discussions.
No Direct Contact Between Putin and Zelensky Since 2022
According to the report, Putin and Zelensky have had no direct or telephone communication since Russia launched its full-scale military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. Their last face-to-face meeting took place in December 2019 during the Normandy Format summit, mediated by France and Germany.
Kyiv has long called for a direct meeting between the two leaders. In July, Zelensky sent Putin an open letter urging him to hold direct talks aimed at ending the war.
However, citing a senior Ukrainian official, The Kyiv Independent reported on Friday that Putin was attempting to avoid a face-to-face meeting by offering a telephone conversation instead. The official said attempts had previously been made to resolve the issue through phone calls.
Moscow Open to Talks, but Conditions Remain for a Direct Meeting
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Putin was ready to engage in discussions with everyone. Asked whether Putin would speak with Zelensky by phone, Peskov replied that no one had called so far.
Putin had previously ruled out the possibility of a direct meeting with Zelensky, describing the Ukrainian president as an “illegitimate leader.” According to Putin, a meeting with Zelensky would only be possible if there were an already approved agreement to be finalised.
Peskov also said that the initial rounds of peace negotiations should involve Russia, the United States and Ukraine. Asked about the need for European countries to participate, he referred to Moscow’s effective communication with Washington and argued that the initial stages of negotiations should reasonably remain trilateral.
Differing Messages from Moscow on Europe's Role in Peace Talks
Meanwhile, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov has said that Europe should also be included in ongoing discussions among officials from Russia, Ukraine and the United States. In his view, Europe would play a highly important role in reaching any peace agreement.
However, according to diplomatic sources cited by The Telegraph, Moscow may seek concessions on NATO's defence policy and expansion through the proposed trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi. Putin has repeatedly cited NATO's expansion as one of the main reasons behind the war in Ukraine.
Pentagon Urges Allies to Moderate Public Remarks on Russia
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has reportedly advised several NATO member states to moderate their public statements about the Russian threat, Reuters reported. In particular, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have reportedly been urged to tone down their harsh rhetoric against Russia, according to people familiar with the matter.
Reuters sources said NATO leaders had been cautioned that excessively strong public statements condemning Russia could create security risks. Several US officials, including Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, reportedly conveyed the message during bilateral meetings. It remains unclear whether governments of other European countries received similar advice.
According to the report, Colby described some remarks by European leaders as unnecessarily harsh. As an example, he referred to comments about “cornering Putin like a rat.” In his view, such statements could further escalate tensions.
Last September, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal used the phrase “corner Putin like a rat” while referring to the Russian president's increasingly difficult position amid the war in Ukraine, according to the report. Pentagon officials subsequently urged the Estonian delegation to exercise restraint in its public statements.
A European official said that the United States and its European allies were cooperating, but unnecessary rhetoric and public escalation should be avoided. The Pentagon, however, declined to comment on the allegations. In a statement, the department said private discussions between allies were confidential and therefore it would not comment on them.
Diplomatic Challenges Ahead of Peace Initiative
Overall, Putin's willingness to accept a phone call from Zelensky, alongside Moscow's differing messages about Europe's role in negotiations, points to a new diplomatic dynamic ahead of the possible resumption of peace talks in Abu Dhabi.
However, whether an agreement to end the war can be reached will depend on the terms of negotiations, Ukraine's position, Russia's demands and the diplomatic efforts of the United States and other relevant parties.
Sources: The Telegraph, The Kyiv Independent and Reuters
