President Barack Obama has invited congressional leaders to the White House to discuss the government shutdown and the debt ceiling, according to spokeswoman Amy Brundage.

Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calf., have been asked to attend a meeting at 5:30 p.m.

So far the shutdown has seen a surprising lack of communication among the top leaders, with Boehner demanding the president agree to roll back the Affordable Care Act and Obama and Reid refusing to consider any such concessions under threat of shutdown or default.

Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck released a statement welcoming the invite: “We’re pleased the president finally recognizes that his refusal to negotiate is indefensible. It’s unclear why we’d be having this meeting if it’s not meant to be a start to serious talks between the two parties.”