Ushakov said Putin would answer if Zelensky called him. Russian President Vladimir Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov stated this in response to Zarubin's question. "I think he will answer, of course. Putin has never refused to talk," Ushakov said (quoted by Kommersant). Putin's aide also said that Zelensky "is signaling through various sources," and "if he really wants to talk, let him come." Ushakov also said that the first rounds of negotiations should take place in a trilateral format with the participation of the United States, Russia, and Ukraine, and European representatives may join in the future. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that European representatives "on the one hand should be at the negotiating table." "But why do they need to be there now with this approach? It is not helpful. That is why they are not there now," he said.

Ushakov said Putin would answer if Zelensky called him. Russian President Vladimir Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov stated this in response to Zarubin's question. "I think he will answer, of course. Putin has never refused to talk," Ushakov said (quoted by Kommersant). Putin's aide also said that Zelensky "is signaling through various sources," and "if he really wants to talk, let him come." Ushakov also said that the first rounds of negotiations should take place in a trilateral format with the participation of the United States, Russia, and Ukraine, and European representatives may join in the future. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that European representatives "on the one hand should be at the negotiating table." "But why do they need to be there now with this approach? It is not helpful. That is why they are not there now," he said.