Zelenskyy on talks with Putin: I don't want to listen to history lectures over the phone

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that he sees no point in having a phone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, as he wants to work out real steps towards peace rather than listen to history lectures.

Source: Zelenskyy during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on 3 November, in response to a question about a possible conversation or meeting with Putin

Quote: "Talking over the phone would result in a very formal, dry conversation where I would have to listen to another history lecture from the Russian leader rather than [discuss] real steps on how to actually end the war. We don't just need to talk about this; we need to sit down, negotiate, and prove where this side is wrong because they are the aggressor. If we want to end the war, we have to meet and take the first step: a ceasefire."

Details: Zelenskyy said that by inviting him to Moscow, the Russian leader was "spitting in the face" of everyone who wants peace.

Quote: "We are not inviting Putin to Kyiv. Firstly, they came to us uninvited in 2022. Secondly, there's no point inviting Putin to Kyiv because they won't come. Inviting them just so they don't come is destructive, just as inviting me to Moscow – which is what Russia is doing – is destructive. It's simply spitting in the face of the entire world that wants the war to end. So no one is going to be in favour of a trip to Moscow."

Details: Zelenskyy added that the first step – a ceasefire – can be taken without even meeting.

Quote: "A ceasefire could happen without a meeting if Russia wanted it to. We are not seeing this. They want dialogue in one format or another. They are proposing a trilateral format. If these are de-escalation steps, then yes – we can meet in a trilateral format."

Details: He added that Ukraine "always advocates for Europe to be present" at all meetings regarding peace, and even when it comes to trilateral talks between Ukraine, the US and Russia, Europe is "present in one format or another" there as well because "we can't do without Europe".

Background:

• US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has announced that trilateral talks on ending the Russia-Ukraine war will take place on 10-11 November in the capital of the United Arab Emirates and will focus on next steps towards peace.
• Zelenskyy said recently that following a conversation between Putin and certain European leaders, there is a sense that Russia is serious about a meeting between the negotiating teams in Abu Dhabi.
• Witkoff said a meeting to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine will be held in Brussels on 4 November, ahead of the talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi.

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