Photo: president.gov.ua
Political negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine have been paused due to the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, while prisoner exchange efforts continue as usual, according to Mykhailo Podolyak.
Podolyak, an adviser to the Office of the President, said in a televised statement that the international situation is directly affecting the diplomatic process.
“As long as the active phase of the war in the Middle East continues, the political and military track of negotiations will remain on pause, while the humanitarian track continues to function,” he said.
Prisoner exchanges continue
Podolyak noted that Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Kyrylo Budanov had previously indicated that prisoner exchanges would continue — and that process remains ongoing.
Changing perceptions of Russia
He also stressed that Russia’s support for Iran has led to a shift in how Middle Eastern countries perceive Moscow — from neutral to increasingly negative.
At the same time, Ukraine’s standing on the international stage has significantly strengthened, creating a new context for future diplomatic efforts.
Diplomatic efforts ongoing
Earlier, Zelenskyy instructed negotiators to raise the issue of a potential personal meeting with Vladimir Putin in Geneva to discuss territorial matters.
However, the Ukrainian president firmly rejected any territorial concessions, including proposals to exchange occupied Donbas for border regions.
Previously, Russia claimed that trilateral talks were “on pause” due to the U.S. side being preoccupied. In response, Zelenskyy invited a U.S. delegation to Kyiv for consultations at the technical level.
