Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dispatched an official delegation to the United States in an effort to restart suspended negotiations aimed at ending Russia's invasion, while a senior Kremlin official indicated on Friday that a new round of US-brokered talks between Moscow and Kyiv may take place soon.
The trilateral talks, which have yet to achieve a breakthrough on key issues, have been paused as the conflict in Iran has dominated global attention. Zelenskyy said late Thursday that he sent representatives to the US for a meeting expected on Saturday, although the White House has not confirmed any such meeting.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia will not be present at those talks and that the time and venue for a new trilateral meeting have not yet been agreed. “The pause is temporary, we hope it’s temporary regarding the continuation of the trilateral format,” he said.
Western European officials have repeatedly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of stalling negotiations while his forces hold nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory. The conflict in the Middle East, which began on February 28 with Israeli and US strikes on Iran, has diverted international attention from Ukraine's plight.
Russia is benefiting from a temporary US waiver on oil sanctions, while Ukraine faces a cash shortage and is still awaiting a 90-billion-euro ($103 billion) loan promised by the European Union. Ukraine may also receive fewer advanced air defence missiles as stockpiles are depleted by the Iran war.
Ukraine has become a leading producer of battle-tested drone interceptors, and Zelenskyy hopes to exchange expertise with Arab Gulf countries targeted by Iranian Shahed drones for air defence missiles. A team of senior Ukrainian officials has recently visited the Gulf region, with Zelenskyy stating, “There is an understanding of what new security agreements can be reached with countries in the region.”
