Ukraine wants a timetable, not more vague promises. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukrainian negotiators will push for clear dates for the next round of talks with Russia after diplomatic efforts were put on hold because of the conflict in the Middle East.

Why Kyiv is asking for dates

Zelenskyy told reporters that Kyiv needs "clear dates, at least approximate ones" so negotiations do not drift without a plan. The request comes as Ukrainian officials prepare to meet US mediators for a new round of discussions in the United States.

Why talks were paused

The pause is linked to the wider security fallout from the US and Israeli actions in the Iran conflict. Kyiv and its partners say the situation in the Middle East is affecting when talks can resume, and some diplomatic activity was delayed as attention shifted to those developments.

Main obstacles on the table

  • Territory: Russia has pushed for Ukraine to cede control of roughly 20 percent of Donetsk. Kyiv rejects that demand.
  • Security guarantees: Ukraine wants strong assurances from Western partners to prevent future Russian attacks if a settlement is reached.
  • Sanctions relief concerns: Kyiv plans to raise objections about recent US moves to ease some sanctions on Russian energy, which Ukrainian officials describe as a dangerous step.

Who is involved

Ukrainian negotiators are meeting in the United States under US-brokered formats. Previous talks in Geneva and Abu Dhabi did not reach a breakthrough. A senior Kremlin official said the pause in the trilateral talks is temporary and suggested negotiations could resume soon.

What allies are saying

European partners are trying to reassure Ukraine that they remain focused on maintaining pressure on Russia despite the Middle East crisis. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Zelenskyy that attention must stay on the conflict in Ukraine even as other crises demand concern.

Next steps

Ukrainian delegates at the upcoming US talks plan to demand a concrete timeline for further negotiations and to press the US and other partners on the recent sanctions waiver for some Russian oil supplies. Kyiv wants the discussions to be substantive and result-oriented, not just procedural.

For now, both Kyiv and Moscow say they expect talks to continue, but Kyiv is clear that dates and real guarantees must come before any agreement moves forward.