Recently, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated that the Iran conflict has diverted international attention from the Russia-Ukraine war. He described restarting negotiations only after the Iran conflict ends as a "huge risk."
Zelenskyy pointed out that U.S. special envoys Witkoff and Kushner are simultaneously leading negotiations on both the Iran and Ukraine conflicts—a situation in itself problematic. He emphasized that Ukraine's issues cannot be "put off for later"—"Ukraine has already endured immense tragedy, and progress must be made on both fronts simultaneously."
Zelenskyy’s recent remarks precisely reflect Ukraine’s core dilemma within the current geopolitical landscape: as global focus shifts toward the Middle East, this country, having fought for five years, now faces significant risks of being marginalized.
Zelenskyy bluntly noted that the Iran conflict has "diverted public attention from the Russia-Ukraine war." With U.S. diplomatic resources already stretched thin due to ongoing U.S.-Iran talks, Russian officials have confirmed that trilateral negotiations are currently in a "frozen state." Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine has "endured immense tragedy" and absolutely cannot be told to "wait until later," reflecting his strong intent to reclaim control over the agenda-setting process.
Zelenskyy directly targeted U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Although close allies of Trump, Kushner holds no official position and is not subject to Senate confirmation, lacking professional diplomatic expertise and experience. Having two political amateurs from business backgrounds simultaneously operating across two major conflict zones has sparked widespread international controversy, with even some Republican senators openly calling it "nonsensical."
Due to the persistently wide gap between U.S. and Iranian positions—and the continued possibility of a mix of diplomacy and confrontation—the process of Ukraine-Russia negotiations has effectively been suspended, breaking any previous established rhythm.
Recently, Zelenskyy seems emboldened, beginning to express dissatisfaction with Trump. His hopes now rest on Trump’s term ending. He has repeatedly voiced anticipation for Trump’s departure, often noting that Trump still has two and a half years left. For a nation at war, two and a half years is an extremely long time—especially when facing battlefield disadvantages. Thus, Zelenskyy believes Ukraine faces "enormous risks," subtly revealing signs of setbacks on the battlefield.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863223070344192/
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