Due to the Iran conflict, Ukraine has raised the prospect of postponing future peace talks aimed at ending its four-year war with Russia.
The latest round of US-brokered talks were due to take place in Abu Dhabi from Thursday before falling prey to Iranian attacks.
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of Ukraine The president said he had contacted the US “about the possibility of changing the venue and postponing the meeting for a while because of the war in the Middle East”.
Volodymyr Zelensky Italian network Rai Italia posted comments on X based on an interview with him.
Earlier this week, Mr Zelensky said Kyiv was open to other locations for talks, such as Turkey or Switzerland. He told Sky News that he was ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin And will do anything to bring peace.
On Thursday, Ukraine returned 200 prisoners of war in its latest exchange with Russia, including troops captured in Moscow’s Mariupol siege in early 2022.
Mr Zelenskyy confirmed the news on X, adding: “Ukraine is working to bring everyone back. No one is forgotten.”
Another 300 soldiers will be exchanged on Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
During a nightly video address by the Ukrainian president on Wednesday, his country’s partners, including the US, said they had sought Kyiv’s help in defending against Iranian drones.
“Partners are turning to us, to Ukraine, with expertise and real operational experience asking for help to defend against (Iranian-designed) Shahed drones… There have also been requests from the American side.”
Ukraine has previously suggested it could share expertise with Middle Eastern countries if they help persuade Russia to observe a ceasefire in its war against Moscow.
But Mr Zelensky said Ukrainian aid would be provided only if it did not undermine Ukraine’s own defences. “Ukraine, we will help those who help us to end the war (with Russia) justly, to protect them from war,” he said.
Thursday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told Reuters that allies would support Ukraine “with whatever it takes to remain strong in the fight” despite the situation in Iran.
Mark Rutte says Ukraine will still receive NATO support. Image: Reuters
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Mr Zelensky warned on Monday that a prolonged and intense war in Iran would reduce air defense systems available to Ukraine and that Russia was preparing a new wave of attacks on infrastructure, logistics and water supplies.
But Ukraine’s president has been an outspoken supporter of the US attack on Iran, striking a contrast to Russia, which has condemned the attack on its ally.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s army has reclaimed territory from Russia in recent weeks, gaining more in February than it lost for the first time since 2023, according to the Finland-based Blackbird Group analysis team.
A major stumbling block in the peace talks is Kyiv’s refusal to cede full control of its eastern Donetsk region to Russia, which Moscow has been unable to fully capture.
