Zelensky: I Don't Want Putin's History Lectures by Phone, We Need a Meeting
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he sees no point in a phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, as he wants real steps toward peace. He said the first step should be a ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on 3 November that he sees no point in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, because he wants concrete steps to end the war rather than history lectures. He spoke at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, answering a question about a possible call or meeting with Putin.
Zelensky said a phone call would be a very formal, dry conversation in which he would once again hear a historical lecture from the Russian leader. In his view, peace must be negotiated in person, and the first step is a ceasefire.
Invitation to Moscow
Zelensky described an invitation to Moscow as a "slap in the face" to everyone who wants peace. Ukraine is not inviting Putin to Kyiv, he said, because Russia came uninvited in 2022 and there is no point inviting someone who will not come. According to the president, nobody would support a trip to Moscow.
Trilateral format and Europe's role
Zelensky believes a ceasefire could happen without a meeting if Russia wanted it, but Kyiv does not see such willingness. Moscow proposes a trilateral format, and if it involves de-escalation steps, Ukraine is ready to meet. He added that Ukraine always advocates for Europe's presence in peace talks, including a trilateral conversation between Ukraine, the US and Russia, because "there is no way without Europe."
Background
Steve Witkoff, the US president's special envoy, previously announced that trilateral talks between the US, Ukraine and Russia would take place on 10–11 November in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, to discuss further steps toward peace. Zelensky said that after European leaders spoke with the Kremlin chief, he sensed Russia was serious about a meeting of negotiating teams in Abu Dhabi. On 4 November, a meeting announced by Witkoff is due at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine ahead of the talks involving Russia.
