Putin open to phone call with Zelensky, Ukraine suspects a Kremlin trap

The Kyiv Independent · 30.10.2026, 14:47:37

The Kremlin is seeking to avoid a face-to-face meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin by proposing they speak by phone instead, the Kyiv Independent has learned. The apparent move comes as Kyiv insists the two leaders should meet in person to address the most pressing issues in negotiations, including Russia's territorial demands and security guarantees. Such a meeting would be their first since 2019. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters