Zelensky confirmed the breakdown of talks between Ukraine and Russia as the U.S. shifts its attention to Iran

Talks on a possible end to the war between Ukraine and Russia have been postponed for an indefinite period after U.S. attention shifted to the escalating conflict with Iran, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said over the weekend.

According to him, a trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States—tentatively planned for March 5–9 in Abu Dhabi—did not take place after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and the subsequent escalation in the Persian Gulf region. Against this backdrop, diplomatic plans were disrupted and the logistics of the negotiating process became more complicated.

“At this moment, our partners’ priority and full attention is focused on the situation around Iran, and because of this the planned meeting was postponed,” Zelensky wrote on X.

At the same time, he emphasized that Kyiv is, in his words, ready for negotiations “at any moment” and in any format that can realistically bring an end to the war closer.

During the pause in the diplomatic process, Zelensky accused Moscow of trying to exploit the Middle East crisis for its own benefit. He said Russia is seeking to turn Iran’s strikes on neighboring countries and U.S. bases into an additional lever of pressure in the war against Ukraine—and more broadly against the West.

Ukrainian intelligence also claims that Russian technological components were found in Iranian Shahed drones used in the region, and that Moscow is allegedly providing Tehran with intelligence data. The Kremlin rejects these accusations and denies that Iran has requested military assistance.

The postponement came after three rounds of U.S.-mediated consultations this year—two in Abu Dhabi and one in Geneva. Despite limited progress, the sides managed to carry out a prisoner exchange on March 5–6 under a 500-for-500formula, one of the few tangible results of the negotiating track.

The key obstacle remains the territorial issue. Russia demands that Ukraine hand over control of parts of Donetsk regionstill under Kyiv’s authority—something Ukraine категорически rejects. Zelensky said Moscow failed to achieve this militarily and therefore has no grounds to expect such concessions at the negotiating table.

Before the meeting was canceled, the Ukrainian side proposed Turkey, Switzerland, or the Vatican as alternative venues. However, no new date has been announced, and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff has not publicly commented on possible timelines for resuming the talks.