Russia–Ukraine: peace talks enter a temporary pause
The Kremlin announced on Thursday that the trilateral peace talks on Ukraine with the United States have entered a “temporary pause.”
The Russian newspaper Izvestia had earlier reported that the war in Iran had led to a temporary suspension of negotiations between Moscow, Washington, and Kyiv.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov added that Russia hopes this pause will come to an end and that a new round of negotiations will be held.
The United States is pressing Kyiv and Moscow to agree on a peace deal, but the war in the Middle East has disrupted a third round of talks.
Loan to Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday called on the European Union to find ways to bypass Hungary’s objection to a €90 billion loan, which is considered vital for his country.
During a visit to Madrid and a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Zelensky stated that this issue would be “the main topic” at the upcoming European Union summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.
He added, “We truly rely on the member states and the European Union to find a way to resolve this issue.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, regarded as the closest ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin within the European Union, is blocking the approval of the loan, partly due to the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies his country with Russian oil and was shut down in Ukraine.
Kyiv had reported that the pipeline was damaged by Russian strikes in January, while the European Union offered to send experts to assist with its repair.
Zelensky, who previously described Hungary’s stance as “blackmail,” called the obstruction “unfair,” noting that the loan had been approved before the end of 2025, and adding, “I believe the appropriate arguments will be found to ensure its passage.”
The Ukrainian president’s visit to Spain follows a stop in London, as part of Kyiv’s efforts to keep the war with Russia at the forefront of European priorities, despite attention being drawn to the repercussions of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran and its expansion in the Middle East.
For his part, Pedro Sánchez stated that “nothing and no one can make us forget what is happening in Ukraine,” adding, “We will continue to stand by you as we always have.”
He also noted that the two countries would strengthen cooperation in the field of defense industries, while ministers from both sides signed cooperation agreements across several sectors.
He further announced a bilateral support plan worth €1 billion for the year 2026.
This marks Zelensky’s fourth visit to Spain since the outbreak of the war in February 2022.
