Kremlin preparing ground for collapse of Ukraine peace talks — ISW
Kremlin preparing ground for collapse of Ukraine peace talks (photo: kremlin.ru)
Kremlin is using the situation in the Middle East to lay groundwork for blaming the United States for the possible failure of Ukraine peace talks, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
What Lavrov said
Analysts drew attention to a statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who sharply criticized US rhetoric regarding US-Israeli operations against Iran.
According to him, Washington is allegedly trying to destabilize the Middle East and drive a wedge between Iran and the countries of the Persian Gulf.
Lavrov also said that Russia is allegedly concerned that the United States conducts military operations against states with which it is holding negotiations. He mentioned strikes on Iran and Venezuela, as well as war between Israel and Iran in 2025. At the same time, the Russian minister said that the "spirit" of the US-Russia summit in Alaska in August 2025 is allegedly weakening.
ISW notes that the Kremlin uses this vague term to claim that the United States and Russia reached a formal agreement.
According to analysts, Lavrov is acting as a moderate voice in order to send a certain message to the Russian public and Russia's allies without criticizing the Trump administration too strongly.
Statements by other Kremlin officials
Other Russian officials are also actively using US military operations against Iran to sharply criticize the United States and rhetorically contrast Russia and the US, as well as to discredit US-led negotiations on Ukraine.
In particular, Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council Dmitry Medvedev criticized US President Donald Trump, accusing him of trying to conduct peace negotiations in parallel with military actions.
First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Alexey Chepa said that operations in Iran are unlikely to completely derail negotiations on Ukraine, but warned that Russia may begin to doubt its belief that the United States can act as "impartial and honest" mediator.
ISW analysts on Moscow strategy
As analysts note, the Kremlin has long been trying to delay and slow down peace negotiations on Ukraine. At the same time, Moscow is forced to balance this with the risk of new US sanctions or other Western steps that could push Russia toward real negotiations.
However, an increase in Kremlin criticism of the United States after the start of US-Israeli operations against Iran on February 28 may indicate growing difficulties for Moscow in maintaining a balance between relations with the United States and its own partners.
Analysts also believe that Russia may use this sharp rhetoric against Washington to shift responsibility for the possible failure of negotiations on the war in Ukraine onto the United States in the future.
Situation with negotiations
The next round of trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States has not yet been given a specific date or location.
Recently, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera that he hopes the US attack on Iran will not affect negotiations with Russia.
Later, he clarified that dialogue with Russia is currently postponed, but Ukraine continues to expect constructive steps.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Zelenskyy, saying that the Ukrainian leader is allegedly obstructing the conclusion of a peace agreement with Russia.
