Yuri Ushakov, foreign policy advisor to the Kremlin, in his recent statements referred to the connection between the timing of the new round of tripartite negotiations to resolve the Ukraine conflict and the current situation in the Middle East. Ushakov stated in an interview with reporters that the situation on the battlefield and the overall regional conditions will influence the timing of these negotiations.
No Specific Date Set for Negotiations
Ushakov said: "Moscow has not yet proposed a specific date for these negotiations." While Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, has expressed hope that this meeting will take place between November 6 and 10 in Abu Dhabi, Ushakov emphasized that the situation in the Middle East, especially following recent tensions between the United States and Israel with Iran, will impact the timing of these negotiations. He stated: "The current situation does not allow us to hold these negotiations in the near future. This is my hypothesis."
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European Countries' Participation in Negotiations
Ushakov also referred to the lack of discussion regarding the presence of European negotiators in the next round of negotiations. He said: "There is no discussion on this topic and nothing is under consideration." While the leaders of Britain, Germany, and France announced last weekend that Europe would have a role in the negotiations between Vladimir Putin and Zelensky, Ushakov stressed the need to focus on tripartite consultations among representatives of Russia, Ukraine, and the United States.
It seems that the United States is trying to advance negotiations to find a solution to the Ukraine conflict, which has lasted for more than four years. Meanwhile, European countries, Ukraine's closest allies and its largest military supporters, are largely sidelined. Ushakov noted the importance of European participation in these negotiations and stated that the position of these countries could be significant.
In his previous statements, Ushakov emphasized that the possibility of European countries participating in the negotiations was not discussed during Tuesday's phone call between Putin and Alexander Stubb, the President of Finland, and Jonas Gahr Støre, the Prime Minister of Norway. These issues are currently at the center of attention, and it seems that future developments in the Middle East could influence the course of the Ukraine negotiations.
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