Kremlin Puts Ukraine Peace Talks on 'Situational Pause' as Zelensky Says U.S. Ready to Resume and Ukraine Aids Gulf Drone Defense Against Iran
The Kremlin says U.S.-brokered Moscow–Kyiv peace talks remain on a "situational pause" as the Middle East conflict intensifies, but a senior Russian official indicated a new round of negotiations will likely take place soon. President Zelensky said Ukraine has dispatched military specialists to help the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan counter Iranian Shahed drone attacks, has sent a delegation to the U.S. to try to restart suspended talks, and noted Washington (and some European partners) has requested Ukrainian expert support for forces in the region.
📌 Key Facts
- Ukraine is assisting five Middle East and Gulf countries with defenses against Iranian Shahed drone attacks by providing expert assessments and helping build defense systems.
- Ukrainian military specialists and interceptor units are operating in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan to protect civilian and critical infrastructure, with plans to expand that protection.
- The U.S. has requested Ukrainian expert support for American military personnel in two areas of the region, and some European partners with forces there have also asked Ukraine for help.
- Ukraine is exploring whether it can contribute to restoring security in the Strait of Hormuz amid the broader Iran war context.
- President Zelenskyy has dispatched an official delegation to the United States to try to restart suspended U.S.-brokered negotiations with Russia that were paused as attention shifted to the Iran war.
- A senior Kremlin official said a new round of U.S.-mediated Moscow–Kyiv talks will likely take place soon, signaling movement toward resuming negotiations.
📊 Relevant Data
Ethnic minorities in Russia, such as Buryats and Dagestanis, are overrepresented in military casualties in the Ukraine war; for instance, Buryatia, with 0.3% of Russia's population, accounts for a disproportionate number of deaths, with at least 2,470 residents killed as of early 2026, while ethnic Russians from wealthier regions like Moscow are underrepresented.
Killed Russians: Russia's ethnic minorities face extinction as Ukraine war claims disproportionate toll — Espreso TV
Confirmed Russian military deaths in the Ukraine war have exceeded 325,000 between February 2022 and December 2025, with regions like Dagestan (2.1% of Russia's population) accounting for 3.6% of casualties, reflecting ethnic and regional inequalities.
The Russia-Ukraine War Report Card, March 4, 2026 — Russia Matters
Over 271,000 Ukrainian refugees have been admitted to the US since 2022, primarily through the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) humanitarian parole program, which was established in April 2022 as a direct policy response to the Russian invasion, allowing sponsored entry outside traditional refugee processes.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Zelenskyy says Ukrainian officials are already working with five Middle East and Gulf countries on countering Iranian Shahed drone attacks by providing expert assessments and helping build defense systems.
- Rustem Umerov states that Ukrainian military specialists and interceptor units are operating in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan to protect civilian and critical infrastructure, with plans to expand that protection.
- Zelenskyy says the U.S. has requested Ukrainian expert support for American military personnel in two areas of the region, and that some European partners with forces in the region have also asked for help.
- Ukraine is exploring whether it can contribute to restoring security in the Strait of Hormuz as part of the broader Iran war context.
- Zelenskyy says he has dispatched an official delegation to the U.S. to try to restart suspended U.S.-brokered negotiations with Russia, which had been paused as the Iran war dominated attention.
- A senior Kremlin official is quoted indicating that a new round of U.S.-mediated Moscow–Kyiv talks will likely take place soon, signaling movement toward resuming negotiations.