Putin Tells Trump Immediate Resumption of Ukraine Talks Is Unlikely

In a phone call with Donald Trump on Oct 9-10, Vladimir Putin said resuming peace talks with Ukraine immediately is unlikely, blaming Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow and other cities during September's parliamentary elections. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Kyiv had disrupted prospects for a quick restart and Russia would assess when talks could resume. This came days after Zelensky said Ukraine was ready for trilateral talks with the US and Russia in October, and after Marco Rubio called the war a 'dangerous stalemate'. After the call Trump announced Russia would deliver over 300,000 tonnes of diesel to US and global markets, a deal Zelensky called a 'gift to Putin'.