Putin intends to speak with Zelensky only by phone

Russian President Vladimir Putin prefers to communicate with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky via phone rather than in person. Ukrainian officials express skepticism about the effectiveness of a phone call, suggesting that a personal meeting would be more beneficial. They emphasize the need for a trilateral format involving the United States and European mediators to address ongoing conflicts. The last direct meeting between the two leaders occurred in 2019, and since the large-scale invasion in 2022, direct communications have been severed. Ukraine fears that a phone call could allow Russia to evade meaningful negotiations.