US shifts focus to Middle East as Ukraine peace talks stall

Officials and diplomatic sources speaking to the Financial Times say peace negotiations over the war in Ukraine have effectively stalled.

According to the newspaper, the slowdown reflects waning interest in the process from US President Donald Trump.

The same sources say Washington’s strategic attention has recently shifted toward developments in the Middle East and initiatives aimed at countering Iran.

Diplomats stationed in European capitals say escalating tensions in the region have drawn the US administration’s focus away from the Ukraine file.

The US administration delivered a new message to its European counterparts last week. Two European Union diplomats told the Financial Times that Washington had informed European officials it has no plans to tighten sanctions targeting Russia’s oil sector. Moscow, meanwhile, maintains that the sanctions imposed by Western countries are illegal.

A senior European official said contacts between Kyiv and Moscow had reached a fragile point. The official described the US-mediated talks as approaching a “dangerous threshold.”

Kremlin confirms pause in negotiations

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also acknowledged a slowdown in the negotiation process. According to the Financial Times, Peskov said: “There is indeed a pause in the negotiations. The Americans have other priorities, and that is understandable.”

A diplomat from the European Union described Washington’s shift of attention to other crises as a “disaster” for both Brussels and Kyiv.

Diplomatic sources also said the US had informed European countries that delays could occur in military shipments.

In particular, slower deliveries of air defence systems could have serious consequences for Ukraine.

Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, openly addressed the change in Washington’s priorities. In comments to the Financial Times, Kallas said: “This certainly creates problems because both the Middle East and Ukraine are competing for the same military resources.”

Next round of talks remains uncertain

The first two rounds of trilateral negotiations between representatives of Russia, Ukraine and the United States took place in the United Arab Emirates on January 23–24 and February 4–5. A third round was held in Switzerland on February 17–18.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had announced that the next meeting was planned to take place in Abu Dhabi between March 5 and March 8.

However, he said the meeting had not been finalized due to ongoing military activity in Kyiv. Zelenskyy also said the next round had been postponed because of developments in the Middle East.

The Kremlin said alternative options for the next round were under consideration. Moscow noted that Istanbul, which has previously hosted negotiations, remains one of the possible venues. No concrete timetable for the next meeting has yet been announced.

Peskov stressed that the talks have not collapsed entirely and said the diplomatic process would continue.

Steve Witkoff, the US president’s special envoy for the Middle East, said on March 10 that representatives from Moscow, Kyiv and Washington could meet next week for a new round of talks.