The Reality Is Much More Complicated Than That

• Leonid Nevzlin
• 24.03.2026, 13:57

The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East require a comprehensive approach.

Washington, together with Moscow, is putting pressure on Ukraine over the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donetsk Region. According to Ukrayinska Pravda, if there is no progress, the US may withdraw from the talks and focus on a military operation against Iran.

The publication notes that the actual start of the negotiation process was given at the summer meeting between Trump and Putin in Anchorage. According to sources, Russia keeps going back to the "agreements" with the US president reached there, and this blocks the development of real negotiations with Ukraine.

"It's as if there are three sides in the meetings, but Ukraine keeps arguing this 'Anchorage' thing. Whatever they talk about, it all boils down to one thing: the Americans say 'get out of Donbass and we'll build you a paradise like we agreed in Alaska,'" said a source in President Zelensky's entourage.

It's important to understand: the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East (and possibly future negotiations) are much more connected than they seem. The Kremlin will now seek to delay and disrupt negotiations with the U.S. and Ukraine. Putin doesn't want to "spook" the benefits he gets from the Middle East war, from rising oil prices and a partial easing of sanctions pressure to discussions about possible supplies of scarce aluminum to the world market.

These conflicts require a comprehensive political approach. Perhaps Washington really believes it can "drop" one war and focus on another. But the reality is likely to be much more complicated.

Leonid Nevzlin, Telegram