MOSCOW, Aug 19, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was open to the "idea" of direct talks with Ukraine, as he spoke by phone with US counterpart Donald Trump on Monday, according to the TASS news agency.

"Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump expressed support for the continuation of direct negotiations between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine," Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said, as quoted by TASS.

"In this regard, in particular, the idea was discussed that it would be necessary to study the possibility of raising the level of representatives of the Ukrainian and Russian sides, that is, those representatives who participate in the aforementioned direct negotiations."

Following White House talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders, Trump announced that he called Putin and "began the arrangements" for a meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders.