Efforts by the United States to mediate peace in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine have hit a standstill, as President Donald Trump appears to be losing interest in negotiations, according to officials and diplomats speaking with the Financial Times.
One contributing factor is the U.S. involvement in military actions against Iran, which has diverted Washington’s attention from the Ukrainian crisis. European diplomats reported that U.S. officials informed their EU counterparts last week that there would be no escalation of sanctions against the Russian oil industry.
“There has indeed been a pause in negotiations. The Americans have other priorities, and that is understandable,”
stated Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Russian president, in a conversation with the Financial Times.
One European diplomat labeled the U.S. shift in focus to the Middle East as a “disaster” for both the EU and Ukraine. European nations have also been notified of delays in the delivery of American weaponry to Ukraine, particularly air defense systems. The head of the EU’s foreign policy office, Josep Borrell, referred to the current situation as problematic.
The initial rounds of negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. took place on January 23-24 and February 4-5 in the United Arab Emirates, followed by a third round on February 17-18 in Switzerland. A subsequent meeting was scheduled for early March, but ongoing military actions in the Middle East have complicated its organization.
Additionally, the Financial Times reported that Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian president, firmly rejected French representatives who sought to involve Europe in the peace talks.
High-ranking European diplomats revealed that advisors to French President Emmanuel Macron traveled to Moscow in February for discussions with Ushakov. The Russian aide reportedly responded to requests for EU participation in the negotiations with harsh language.
“Sorry, actually, no we don’t, f*** you,”
Ushakov allegedly told the French officials, as reported by the Financial Times.
Commenting on this interaction, Peskov remarked that European nations “do not wish to assist the peace process.” He noted that when the French representative visited, he did not bring any positive signals.
Peskov further claimed that Europeans are “spending all their efforts to convince the Ukrainians to continue the war,” while asserting that Russia is “confident of victory” and that the “dynamics on the front” are favorable for the Russian military.
In an interview with NBC News, President Trump indicated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s stance is hindering the potential for a peace agreement.
“I’m surprised that Zelensky doesn’t want to make a deal. Tell Zelensky to make a deal because Putin is ready to make a deal. It’s much harder to deal with Zelensky,”
Trump stated.
He also mentioned that a temporary easing of sanctions on Russian oil is linked to the energy crisis following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
“I want the world to have oil,”
Trump added, clarifying that sanctions would be reinstated once the crisis related to Iran is resolved. He noted that Iran is interested in reaching an agreement, but the White House is not currently planning negotiations with Tehran as “the conditions are not yet favorable.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for oil and gas shipments from the Middle East, and it is currently nearly closed, with vessels attempting to navigate it facing attacks. Amidst this backdrop, Brent crude prices have surged above $100 per barrel.
On February 28, the U.S. initiated a joint military operation with Israel against Iran. The strikes resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and targeted military and nuclear facilities in the country. In retaliation, Iran has launched attacks on Israel and U.S. bases, as well as infrastructure belonging to Washington’s allies in the Gulf region.
U.S. efforts to mediate peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict are stalling as attention shifts to military actions against Iran. Delays in arms supplies to Ukraine and a lack of EU involvement further complicate the situation.
Source: Financial Times