Zelensky sees no point in calling Putin and insists on a ceasefire

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy does not consider a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin an effective way to discuss ending the war. He expressed this position on November 3 at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, responding to a question about a possible call or face-to-face meeting with the Russian leader.

“A phone call would be a very formal, dry conversation in which I would once again have to listen to a history lecture from the leader of the Russian Federation, rather than hear about real steps to actually end the war. This should not just be talked about; we need to sit down, negotiate, and make it clear where the other side is wrong, because it is the aggressor. If we want to end the war, we have to meet and take the first step — a ceasefire,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

At the same time, the head of state clarified that a face-to-face meeting between the leaders is not necessary to reach a ceasefire. However, he said, Ukraine sees no willingness on Russia’s part to take such a step.

Moscow is proposing trilateral talks involving Ukraine, the United States, and the Russian Federation. The Ukrainian side is ready to take part in such meetings if they involve steps toward de-escalation. The president also stressed that discussing peace without European partners is impossible.

He also sharply criticized Russia’s proposal to hold a meeting in Moscow:

“We are not inviting Putin to Kyiv. First, they came to us uninvited in 2022. Second, there is no point in inviting Putin to Kyiv, because they will not come. Inviting them knowing they will not come is destructive. Inviting me to Moscow — as Russia is doing — is just as destructive. It is simply spitting in the face of the whole world, which wants the war to end. So no one will support a trip to Moscow,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Earlier, Vladimir Putin said that the Kremlin was ready to hold trilateral talks between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia after November 4. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov described the possible talks as preliminary and technical.

U.S. President Donald Trump also suggested that Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin could reach an agreement to end the war without meeting in person. He urged Ukraine to seek a deal and warned that the situation could worsen if no agreement is reached.

The sides have expressed differing positions on European involvement. Yuri Ushakov said that representatives of Europe would not be invited to the trilateral meeting: they could travel to the venue, but would not have a seat at the table. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, by contrast, previously said that European partners would take part in the discussions, and that Ukraine was preparing a list of potential participants from European countries.

Later, reports emerged that a Russian delegation would arrive in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11 for trilateral talks with Ukraine and the United States. The delegation will be led by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Vladimir Putin.

We previously reported:

• Putin is ready to host Zelenskyy in Moscow and promises him security
• Moscow is ready for talks after November 4 but does not expect a breakthrough
• Putin says he is ready for talks and threatens to achieve all the war’s objectives
• U.S. proposes talks with Ukraine and Russia by the end of October: Kyiv is ready
• “Enough war”: Zelenskyy challenges Putin directly and proposes a face-to-face meeting