ZELENSKY says negotiations on Ukraine cannot wait until after the war in Iran is over

Thursday, April 23, 2026 - Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that efforts to end the war with Russia cannot be delayed until tensions in Iran are resolved, stressing the urgency of ongoing negotiations.

In a new interview with CNN, Zelensky said he is open to a ceasefire with Russia but does not expect progress soon, as US attention has shifted toward the Middle East.

Speaking with journalist Christiane Amanpour, Zelensky said he does not “see the opportunity” for meaningful talks until the situation involving Iran is “closed” or a broader ceasefire is reached between the United States, Israel and Iran.

He described it as a major challenge that the same US negotiating team—led by envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, is handling both the Iran conflict and Ukraine negotiations.

While acknowledging Washington’s current focus on Iran, Zelensky insisted Ukraine cannot be sidelined.

“Ukraine is not ‘a little bit later.’ Ukraine is already in such a big tragedy. We have to find a way to manage this in a parallel way,” he said.

Zelensky also revealed that the war has disrupted the supply of key weapons, particularly anti-ballistic missile systems, citing limited production capacity in the United States.

He emphasized that continued financial support is critical, describing it as a matter of survival for Ukraine.

His comments came shortly after the European Union approved a €90 billion loan package for Ukraine, aimed at supporting its economy and defense efforts.

The funding had been delayed due to opposition from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, but progress was made following recent political developments in Hungary and the resumption of oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline.

Zelensky said the funds are essential to boost domestic weapons production, noting that Ukraine has the capacity to double its drone interceptor output but lacks the financial resources to do so.

“But we don’t have the funding. It’s really a question of our life, of surviving,” he said, underscoring the urgency of sustained international support.