Zelensky tells CNN talks on Ukraine cannot wait until after the war in Iran is over

 

President Zelensky says ceasefire with Russia unlikely until Iran issue ‘closed’

2:05

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted the war in Iran has taken the focus away from Russia’s aggression against his country, telling CNN it was a “big risk” to think that efforts to end the fighting in Ukraine can’t restart until the conflict in Iran ends.

Speaking to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour from the presidential office in Kyiv, Zelensky said Wednesday that while technical talks with the United States are still happening, he doesn’t “see the opportunity to meet … until the question, the case of Iran will be closed.”

Zelensky pointed out that it was a “challenge” that the same team of US negotiators – led by US envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner – was leading both the talks about the war in Iran and in Ukraine.

And he said that while he understands the United States is currently focused on its war on Iran, it was important not to forget about Ukraine where fighting continues.

By

Christiane Amanpour

,

Ivana Kottasová