Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at the press conference after he concluded the visit to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin city and a military parade in Beijing, commemorating the end of World War II in Asia on September 3, 2025. (Photo: REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/Pool)

Although President Putin didn’t name any officials who could potentially participate in such talks, he said that it could be at a “truly high political level” while stressing that “the outcome is what matters.”

Putin struck a cautiously optimistic note, suggesting there was “light at the end of the tunnel” regarding the conflict in Ukraine, though he said developments still need to be watched. The Russian leader said that if no agreement is reached, Moscow will resort to military means.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Wednesday listed several countries where President Volodymyr Zelensky would be willing to meet with President Putin. On X, Sybiha said at least seven nations – Austria, the Vatican, Switzerland, Turkey, and three Gulf states—have expressed their readiness to host talks between the Ukrainian and Russian presidents.