KYIV, Ukraine — KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — U.S.-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine could take place in Switzerland or Turkey later this week if a planned meeting in Abu Dhabi is not possible because of the war in the Middle East, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday.
He noted that the West has so far given no indication that delivery of its key air defense missiles to Kyiv could be hampered by Middle East defense commitments.
US-led diplomatic efforts to end the war, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, continue. But the American and Israeli attacks on Iran and the response by Iranian and Iranian-backed militias firing missiles at Israel and Arab states could divert international attention from the 4-year-old conflict in Europe.
“Due to hostilities, from today we cannot confirm that (talks) will take place in Abu Dhabi,” Zelensky told reporters in a WhatsApp chat. He said last week that the capital of the United Arab Emirates is the place to be this week.
Previously, Russia-Ukraine talks were held in Abu Dhabi, Istanbul and Geneva. They have not made progress on important issues.
Zelensky said there would be no immediate changes in American and European supplies of air defense weapons to Ukraine, particularly the American-made Patriot systems. However, he noted that the number of deliveries could decline if the Middle East attacks continue.
Zelensky said Russia’s attempt to knock out Ukraine’s power grid over the winter failed, though it caused more damage. Russian airstrikes are now turning to other infrastructure, including water supplies, he said.
The United Kingdom will bring experts from Ukraine to help Persian Gulf nations shoot down Iranian drones, British Prime Minister Keir Stormer said on Sunday. Ukraine has developed expertise in drone operations during the war, as Russia launches daily bombing raids with Iranian-developed Shahed drones.
But Zelensky said he had not received any direct requests from the United Kingdom or other countries about that possibility.
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(Tags to be translated)2024-2025 Middle East Wars(T)General News(T)War and Unrest(T)Russia Ukraine War(T)World News(T)Article(T)130672908
