(SeaPRwire) –   Peace discussions concerning Ukraine are currently on a “situational pause” due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the Kremlin announced on Thursday. This statement comes even as Kyiv indicated that negotiations could potentially restart as early as this weekend.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the halt in talks after Russian media outlets reported that the Kremlin had suspended discussions on Ukraine, suggesting that the Middle East crisis might compel Kyiv to seek a compromise.

“This represents a situational pause, for clear reasons,” Peskov informed journalists when questioned about the report, as cited by Reuters.

Peskov further stated that Moscow anticipates the pause will conclude and new discussions can commence once “our American partners” are able to redirect their focus back to the Ukraine conflict, according to the same news source.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a video shared on X, revealed that Kyiv has received indications from the United States expressing readiness to resume talks aimed at ending the war.

“There has been a break in the negotiations, and it is now time to restart them,” he declared. “We are making every effort to ensure that these negotiations are truly substantive.”

Zelenskyy also mentioned that a Ukrainian negotiating delegation is already en route to the U.S., with meetings scheduled for Saturday.

Earlier this month, former President Donald Trump commented that the intense “hatred” between Russia and Ukraine was impeding the achievement of a peace agreement.

Speaking at the Shield of the Americas Summit in Doral, Florida, Trump remarked that the “animosity between Putin and his counterpart is so profound.”

“It’s so profound that, you know, Ukraine, Russia, you’d think there would be a little bit of camaraderie, [but] there’s not. And the animosity is so profound. It’s very difficult for them to reach an agreement. It’s very, very difficult to get there. So we’ll see what happens,” Trump stated. “But we’ve been close many times and one side or the other would withdraw.”

Trump’s observations followed a January statement by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who reported that Russia was losing between 20,000 and 25,000 troops monthly in its war against Ukraine.

The suspension of talks coincides with Ukraine’s increasing involvement in the broader Middle East conflict.

With the conflict in Iran now entering its third week, Ukraine is supplying technology and battle-proven tactics to counteract Iranian drone assaults.

Both U.S. and Gulf allies have requested Ukrainian assistance, and Kyiv has indicated its willingness to share both systems and personnel to aid in defending against Iranian aerial threats.

Digital’s Greg Norman-Diamond and Morgan Phillips contributed to this report, along with Reuters.