Trump turns attention away from Ukraine war amid changing priorities — FT
US President Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
The peace process between Ukraine and Russia, mediated by the United States, has reached a deadlock. Washington's priorities have shifted toward the conflict with Iran, leading to pauses in negotiations and delays in the delivery of critically needed weapons for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, according to the Financial Times.
Washington shifts its focus
The FT reports that the escalation in the Middle East has effectively prompted the United States to suspend its active participation in the negotiations on Ukraine.
Another round of talks scheduled for early March did not take place, and a new date has yet to be set. European diplomats say the shift in attention is extremely dangerous for Kyiv.
"The Middle East has severely reoriented political attention away from Ukraine. For us, and for Ukraine, it's a disaster," the outlet quoted one of the EU diplomats.
Air defenses, ammo shortages
Beyond political support, changes in the White House's priorities have also affected Ukraine's defense capabilities.
According to sources, deliveries of air defense systems will be delayed because the United States is prioritizing other clients.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed the problem.
"It is definitely a problem because you have a competition for the same assets really, in the Middle East as well as in Ukraine," she said.
Kremlin's stance, 'pause' in dialogue
Russia is using the situation to its advantage, benefiting from rising oil prices and reduced sanctions pressure.
The Kremlin has openly stated that the United States is currently focused on other matters.
"A pause has indeed appeared in the talks. The Americans have other priorities, and that's understandable," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Russia continues advancing on the battlefield to achieve its goals.
Where negotiations stand right now
Peace talks on Ukraine have entered a "danger zone" due to the United States shifting its focus to the conflict in the Middle East.
In addition, Moscow has taken a hardline stance against European countries' participation in the dialogue, with the Kremlin responding to the proposal with an expletive-laden remark.
At the same time, Ukrainian officials and international experts remain skeptical about Russia's intentions, noting that Russian leader Vladimir Putin never sought genuine negotiations or a full end to the war, using diplomacy mainly as a tool to ease sanctions pressure.
