Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech in Moscow on June 20, 2019 (Source: AFP/VNA)

Russia has never refused to hold any kind of talks, including an expansion of the Normandy process, Putin said in response to a question about Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s initiative to hold a meeting that would also involve the leaders of the US, Great Britain, France, and Germany. Thorough preparations should be made, however, Putin added.

Putin and Zelensky discussed the Ukrainian conflict in their first telephone conversation, the Kremlin said Thursday. The leaders discussed a settlement in southeast Ukraine and cooperation in returning detainees from both sides. They also discussed continued contact in the Normandy format. It was Putin's first contact with Zelensky since he was sworn in as Ukraine's president on May 20.