With 800,000 Americans going without paychecks due to the government shutdown, Democratic leaders said today it was time for an open discussion with any intermediaries to take place.

“We are ready to directly engage with the key player in this.”

Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer said they could be on a plane to Moscow at a moment’s notice if they got any indication that the most powerful person in the executive branch of government was ready for talks.

“This is too important an issue for pretenses or for dealing with a mere facade.”

Responding to their pleas, Russian President Valdimir Putin said he might consider it in due course.

“I am still greatly enjoying this shutdown, but it may bore me after a while, so we’ll see.”