Vladimir Putin has again offered Volodymyr Zelensky direct talks in Moscow and, through Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, said Russia would guarantee his security there. The offer followed a phone call between Putin, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

Moscow was put on the table

Ushakov said Putin repeated that Zelensky could come to the Russian capital if he genuinely wanted direct negotiations. He said Russia would provide all necessary conditions, including security arrangements, for the Ukrainian president.

No date for a meeting was announced, and no agreement to hold one was disclosed. Kyiv’s response to the proposal was not reported.

What Putin discussed with Støre and Stubb

Ushakov said Støre and Stubb told Putin that Zelensky was interested in direct talks with the Russian leader. He said the call lasted about 90 minutes and was focused mainly on reviving trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

At this stage, Ushakov said, European representation in the Ukraine negotiations was not under consideration.

Abu Dhabi is the other track

Zelensky said a trilateral meeting involving Ukrainian, US and Russian negotiators could take place in Abu Dhabi between November 6 and 10. He said the first items on the agenda should be de-escalation measures, including prisoner exchanges and ceasefires covering energy infrastructure and the Black Sea.

Upday reported that delegations from Ukraine, Russia and the United States were preparing to meet in Abu Dhabi on November 10.

Zelensky also said any debate about territory should stay between national leaders, and that a future meeting involving Trump, Zelensky and Putin could be discussed there. US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said he expected a trilateral meeting with Putin and Zelensky soon and that recent talks had made substantial progress.

Europe’s role remains unsettled

Zelensky has said Europe needs a voice in decisions on Ukraine, while Ushakov said European representatives are not planned for the upcoming trilateral format. He also said the call drew critical reactions in several European countries.