Zelensky conveyed to Putin his readiness to personally discuss the territorial issue

Readiness for a meeting was conveyed through Helsinki and Oslo

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed readiness to discuss the territorial issue at a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha told the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat about this. 'We want this meeting and are ready for it. Perhaps only a meeting between Zelensky and Putin can take the negotiations to a new level. Zelensky is ready to discuss the most difficult and sensitive topics, including the issue of territories,' Daryo.uz quotes Sybiha as saying.

The channel for conveying the position and its context

Zelensky's position was conveyed to the Russian president on October 27 during a phone call by President of Finland Alexander Stubb and Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre. According to Sybiha, the call, arranged at the initiative of the European side, was coordinated with Kyiv; its main purpose was to deliver Ukraine's position to Putin. Kyiv expressed readiness not only to arrange a face-to-face meeting between the leaders of the two states, but also stated the need for a ceasefire.

Connection with the talks in Abu Dhabi and the first contact in a year

Earlier, Stubb's office reported that the purpose of the phone call was to directly convey to Putin Ukraine's position regarding the peace talks planned in Abu Dhabi; Helsinki did not disclose details of the conversation. It is noted that Putin's conversation with Stubb and Støre was his first contact with European leaders supporting Ukraine since 2025, when he spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron in July. Sources do not report on the content of Putin's response position or on whether there was any reaction to the proposal for a meeting.