Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said peace talks with Russia are slowing as global attention shifts to the conflict in Iran and the Middle East. In an interview with CNN, Zelenskyy said he remains open to a ceasefire with Russia but does not expect meaningful progress in negotiations in the near term. He noted that discussions involving the US are still ongoing, but added that he doesn’t “see the opportunity to meet … until the question, the case of Iran will be closed.” Zelenskyy also pointed to the “challenge” in having overlapping diplomatic teams handling both conflicts, raising concerns about divided attention in international peace efforts. He stressed that delaying discussions is not a viable option for Kyiv, saying Ukraine’s situation requires sustained engagement rather than postponement while other crises unfold. He also highlighted strains on military resources, including shortages of critical air defense systems, which he said are limited by production capacity and global demand. Despite these challenges, Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine continues to seek both security support and diplomatic pathways forward as the war with Russia continues.


