Ukraine Negotiations: Kremlin Links Timeline to Middle East

Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said Wednesday that the schedule for the next round of Ukraine peace talks is tied to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Ushakov told Russian news agencies that Moscow has not yet proposed a specific date for the negotiations. He noted that the timing will depend on conditions on the battlefield and the general situation in the region. Ushakov specifically pointed to the fallout from the US-Israeli war on Iran as a factor preventing a meeting in the near future.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope on Wednesday that the leaders would meet in Abu Dhabi between November 6 and November 10. Ushakov’s comments suggest that this window may slip as the Middle East crisis continues to unfold.

The Kremlin aide also addressed the role of European nations in the process. He stated that there has been no discussion about including European negotiators at the next session. Ushakov said, "There is absolutely no talk about this, nothing being considered." He emphasized that the current agreement involves resuming three-sided consultations among representatives of Russia, Ukraine, and the United States.

This stance contrasts with remarks made by the leaders of Britain, Germany, and France last weekend. Those leaders said Europe would play a role in US-mediated talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky to secure a ceasefire. Ushakov added that the possible participation of European countries was not mentioned during Putin's Tuesday phone calls with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere.

The United States has led the current push to resolve the four-and-a-half-year-old conflict. This approach has left Ukraine's closest allies and major military backers largely on the sidelines. Ushakov told journalists at the weekend that Europe should be included in discussions because its position could be crucial to the outcome.

Ushakov concluded his remarks by reiterating that the next steps depend on the evolving situation in the Middle East. He maintained that the current regional instability makes it difficult to hold the talks in the immediate future.