“I think he would answer, of course. Putin has never refused talks,” Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told the Interfax news agency, signaling a potential shift in Moscow’s diplomatic posture as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pursues direct contact.
The Kremlin’s assertion that Vladimir Putin would accept a phone call from his Ukrainian counterpart follows a diplomatic outreach facilitated by international intermediaries. Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Støre recently coordinated with Kyiv to convey a message from Zelensky to Moscow, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha. The communication included a proposal for an in-person meeting between the two leaders and a renewed call for a ceasefire, with Kyiv indicating readiness to address sensitive topics, including territory.
Putin repeatedly refused requests from Zelensky to hold talks, including on February 23, 2022, the day before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Drone Attacks Strike Nizhny Novgorod Region
The diplomatic maneuvering unfolds against the backdrop of escalating military strikes inside Russian territory. A large fire broke out at the Kstovo oil refinery in the Nizhny Novgorod region following a series of explosions heard across the city beginning at approximately 4.11am local time, according to reports from RBC Ukraine.
Putin 'would answer' if Zelensky called, Kremlin aide says as Ukraine and Russia trade strikes https://t.co/qK5hEVlbzY
Gleb Nikitin, governor of Nizhny Novgorod, reported that more than 100 drones had been intercepted and destroyed overnight and into the morning hours. Nikitin described the event as a massive drone attack that caused significant damage to an industrial facility in the Kstovsky District. While authorities reported no casualties, the governor warned of temporary power outages across the area. Russian officials have not yet officially confirmed what sparked the blaze at the refinery or detailed the full extent of the structural damage.
Diplomatic Outlook and Next Steps
Despite the intensifying aerial attacks, Ukrainian officials maintain that a face-to-face summit remains the primary vehicle for altering the trajectory of the conflict. Sybiha stated that Kyiv remains prepared to discuss complex territorial matters directly with Putin if Moscow agrees to the meeting.
Russian authorities have not announced any formal schedule for a direct conversation between the two leaders, leaving the diplomatic initiative dependent on whether formal contact is initiated.
