Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told CNN that peace efforts on Ukraine cannot wait for the Iran conflict to end, citing distraction from Russian aggression.
6:58 PM
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in comments to CNN on Wednesday that negotiations on Ukraine cannot be delayed by ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict in Iran, warning that the war in Iran has diverted international attention from Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
Zelenskyy acknowledged remaining open to a ceasefire with Russia but expressed concern that progress on Ukraine talks has stalled while the Iran situation remains unresolved. He described waiting for peace in Iran before resuming Ukraine negotiations as "a big risk," emphasizing that fighting continues in Ukraine and cannot be postponed indefinitely.
The Ukrainian president noted that although technical talks with the United States are still continuing, he does not see the possibility of a high-level meeting until the Iran matter is closed. He characterized this as "a challenge," given that the same U.S. negotiating team is handling both conflicts.
The team handling negotiations includes White House special envoy Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former President Donald Trump. Zelenskyy acknowledged understanding that the United States is currently focused on the war with Iran but stressed the importance of maintaining attention on Ukraine, where fighting remains active.
Zelenskyy emphasized that it is not acceptable to defer Ukraine discussions, stating that Ukraine cannot be treated as a matter to address "a little bit later." He underscored that the country requires immediate engagement in peace negotiations rather than indefinite postponement pending resolution of other international conflicts.
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