Talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine have entered what Moscow describes as a “situational pause”, as the outbreak of conflict involving Iran diverts attention in Washington and beyond, the Kremlin said.
Dmitry Peskov said the halt in momentum was driven by “obvious reasons”, pointing to the strain on diplomatic bandwidth as the United States confronts a new crisis in the Middle East. The pause, he suggested, is temporary, with Moscow expecting discussions to resume once “our American partners” can refocus on Ukraine.
The development underscores the fragility of efforts led by Donald Trump, who had pledged to bring the war to an end upon returning to the White House. He has since acknowledged that resolving the conflict has proven far more difficult than anticipated, describing it as one of the most challenging issues of his presidency, as reported by Reuters.
Russian state newspaper Izvestia, cited by Reuters, said the Kremlin had confirmed the slowdown in negotiations and suggested that the widening conflict in the Middle East could increase pressure on Kyiv to compromise.
While political talks have stalled, discussions on economic and investment cooperation between Moscow and Washington, led by presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, are expected to continue.
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Ukraine and Russia have engaged in multiple rounds of talks since Moscow’s 2022 invasion, including meetings in Turkey and more recent sessions mediated by the United States in Abu Dhabi and Geneva. Despite these efforts, both sides remain far apart, particularly over Russia’s demand that Ukraine cede full control of the Donetsk region.
Western officials and Ukrainian leaders argue that conceding territory would reward what they describe as an imperial-style land grab and could embolden Moscow to threaten other European states. Russia has consistently rejected such claims.
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Adding to concerns in Kyiv, Tulsi Gabbard told the Senate Intelligence Committee, in remarks reported by Reuters, that Russia currently holds the upper hand on the battlefield. She said Moscow is likely to continue a war of attrition aimed at weakening Ukraine’s capacity and resolve unless a negotiated settlement is reached.
Vladimir Putin has maintained that he is open to peace talks but has set out conditions that Ukraine considers unacceptable. These include abandoning its ambition to join NATO and withdrawing from four regions claimed by Russia. Kyiv has repeatedly questioned Moscow’s commitment to a genuine settlement and insists it will not give up territory it still controls.
For now, diplomacy appears overshadowed by a widening global crisis, leaving the prospect of a breakthrough in Ukraine uncertain, Reuters said.
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