Yesterday, Moscow announced that Washington has canceled the upcoming bilateral meeting aimed at normalizing the operations of their diplomatic missions, despite a thaw in relations over the past few months.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, currently visiting Vienna, confirmed his intention to discuss the purchase of military equipment from the United States with President Donald Trump.
Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated briefly, “The next meeting has been canceled (…) at the initiative of the American negotiators.”
She added, “We hope this hiatus will not be prolonged,” without providing further details or reasons for the delay. Recently, the two countries held two rounds of negotiations in Turkey regarding this matter.
Last week, Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Alexander Darchiev mentioned that a new round of talks will take place in “the near future” in Moscow, though Washington has not yet commented.
This dialogue comes after years of expelling diplomats and reducing the activities of their missions amidst heightened tensions, particularly concerning the war in Ukraine.
In recent weeks, the pace of discussions between Russia and the United States has slowed, and the likelihood of quickly reaching an agreement to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, which Trump had pledged, seems diminished.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that “there are many obstacles in the way of bilateral relations, and it’s unlikely we will see any quick outcomes.” He indicated that “this difficult work will continue.”
In addition to the complex Ukrainian issue, both Russia and the United States wish to address broader matters, such as their economic relations, security architecture in Europe, and arms control.
Meanwhile, Zelensky stated, “One of the topics I will discuss with President Trump during our upcoming meeting in Canada pertains to a defense package that Ukraine wishes to purchase.”
He further emphasized, “We all need to work to ensure that the alliance between the United States and Europe does not unravel. This is in everyone’s interest,” adding that “he cannot, even today, imagine how to live and fight without U.S. support.”
Zelensky’s remarks occurred during a press conference alongside Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, whom he met as part of his efforts to secure ongoing Western support in the face of Russian aggression.