Ukraine talks hinge on Middle East conflict and battlefield, Kremlin says

The next round of Ukraine peace talks is unlikely to occur in the near future due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov on Wednesday. The statement casts doubt on a proposed meeting in Abu Dhabi between November 6 and 10. Ushakov said Moscow has not proposed a specific date, citing the battlefield situation and regional fallout from the US-Israeli war on Iran. He also confirmed there is no discussion of including European negotiators, despite weekend statements from British, German, and French leaders. The US has led mediation efforts between Russia and Ukraine, largely sidelining European allies. Ushakov previously suggested Europe's inclusion could be crucial, but said the topic was not raised during Putin's Tuesday calls with Finnish and Norwegian leaders.