Ukraine has raised the prospect of postponing future peace talks aimed at ending its four-year-old war with Russia, because of the Iran conflict.
The latest round of US-mediated negotiations was due to take place in Abu Dhabi starting on Thursday, before it was targeted by Iranian strikes.
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Ukraine’s president said he had approached the US “about the possibility of changing the location and postponing the meeting for a while due to the war in the Middle East”.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted the comments on X, based on his interview with Italian network Rai Italia.
Earlier this week, Mr Zelenskyy said that Kyiv was open to other locations for the talks, such as Turkey or Switzerland. He also told Sky News that he is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and will do anything to bring about peace.
On Thursday, Ukraine returned 200 prisoners of war in its latest swap with Russia, including troops captured in Moscow’s siege of Mariupol in early 2022.
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Mr Zelenskyy confirmed the news on X, adding: “Ukraine is working to bring everyone back. No one is forgotten.”
The Russian foreign ministry also said another 300 soldiers will be swapped on Friday.
During the Ukrainian president’s nightly video address on Wednesday, he said that his country’s partners, including the US, had sought Kyiv’s help in defending against Iranian drones.
“Partners are turning to us, to Ukraine, asking for help in defending against [Iranian-designed] Shahed drones, with expertise and real operational experience… there have also been requests from the American side.”
Ukraine has previously suggested it could share expertise with Middle East countries if they could help persuade Russia to observe a ceasefire in their war against Moscow.
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But Mr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian assistance would only be provided if it did not weaken Ukraine’s own defences. “We help to defend from war those who help us, Ukraine, bring a just end to the war [with Russia],” he said.
On Thursday, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte told Reuters that allies will keep supporting Ukraine with “what it needs to stay strong in the fight” despite the situation in Iran.
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Mr Zelenskyy had warned on Monday that a prolonged and intense war in Iran could reduce the air defence systems available to Ukraine and that Russia was preparing a new wave of attacks on infrastructure, logistics and water supplies.
But Ukraine’s president has been an outspoken supporter of the US attack on Iran, striking a contrast with Russia, which has condemned the attacks on its ally.
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Meanwhile, Ukraine’s army has retaken territory from Russia in recent weeks, gaining more in February than it lost for the first time since 2023, according to the Finland-based Black Bird Group analysis team.
A key stumbling block in peace talks has been Kyiv’s refusal to give up full control of its eastern Donetsk region to Russia, which Moscow has been unable to fully conquer.
