Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is ready to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the Russian leader is ready for a personal meeting, but in Moscow. Meanwhile, preparations for trilateral talks between Russia, the United States and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi are continuing. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

Zelensky spoke about his interest in talks in Turkey in an interview with CNN Türk. According to him, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's contacts with Putin could help organize the meeting.

"I know that President Erdogan has his own ties with Putin. For this reason, we support a meeting in Turkey," Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian president recalled that delegations had already held talks in Turkey, and technical groups met in the UAE. Despite some results, the war continues. In his view, political will from the leaders of the countries is needed for further progress.

Zelensky also stressed that a meeting of the leaders should lead to concrete progress. Otherwise, it could be seen as a failure of diplomacy.

Lavrov, speaking to journalists following the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta on October 30, said Putin is not refusing personal talks with Zelensky. However, according to the minister, the meeting must take place in the Russian capital, Interfax reports.

"President Putin said that if he wants to meet, let him come to Moscow," Lavrov said.

The Russian foreign minister added that Russia would guarantee Zelensky's security if he comes.

Lavrov also confirmed that work on the next round of trilateral talks between Russia, the United States and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi is ongoing. At the same time, he and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio are not directly involved in the preparations.

"Marco Rubio and your humble servant are not directly involved in preparing these talks. By decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin, there is a delegation that everyone knows well. They negotiate and coordinate locations with their partners," the minister said.

According to Lavrov, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov and Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov had earlier named mid-November as the tentative date for the meeting. Exact dates will be announced after final coordination.

"As for the talks in Abu Dhabi, I can say that they will take place. Our position is well known, but what the Ukrainians intend to bring to the negotiating table is unclear," the Russian foreign minister said.

Lavrov also claims that Zelensky's statements about Ukraine having long-range missiles capable of hitting targets in Russia negatively affect preparations for the meeting.

On October 31, Zelensky met with Erdogan in Istanbul. According to the Ukrainian president's office, the parties discussed preparations for the trilateral format in the first half of November, as well as the possible participation of Turkey and European partners.