Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the United States of neglecting Ukraine's war effort because American negotiators are preoccupied with the Iran conflict. Speaking to German public broadcaster ZDF on Tuesday, Zelensky said US peace mediators have shifted their attention away from ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader specifically named Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as the American negotiators who have been helping broker talks with Moscow but are now focused elsewhere. He described them as pragmatic figures attempting to gain Putin's attention to end the war.
constantly in talks with Iran
Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian President — ZDF
Zelensky warned that without sustained American pressure on Russia, Moscow would lose its fear of consequences. He argued that gentle dialogue alone would not compel Putin to negotiate seriously about ending the conflict that has devastated Ukraine for nearly five years.
The shift in American diplomatic focus has coincided with serious disruptions to Ukraine's military supply chain. Zelensky highlighted particular concerns about PAC-3 and PAC-2 interceptor missiles, which Ukraine receives through the PURL program that allows European countries to finance American equipment for Ukrainian forces.
NDTV presents the story as straightforward diplomatic reporting, focusing on Zelensky's statements without editorial commentary. The Indian outlet emphasizes the practical consequences of divided American attention, reflecting India's non-aligned approach to conflicts involving major powers and its interest in diplomatic solutions over military escalation.