Kremlin Links Next Ukraine Talks to Middle East Situation

The next round of three-way talks on settling the Ukraine conflict may be delayed, as Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov linked its timing to the Middle East situation and other factors, casting doubt on a proposed November meeting. Ushakov said Moscow has not set a specific date, and the conflict in the Middle East, stemming from the US-Israeli war on Iran, prevents holding talks soon. He also dismissed any discussion of European negotiators attending, despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hoping for an Abu Dhabi meeting between November 6 and 10. The US has led mediation efforts between Russia and Ukraine, leaving European allies largely sidelined, though Ushakov previously suggested Europe's inclusion could be crucial. The conflict has lasted four and a half years.