The situation in the Middle East has affected the position of the United States. Russia and the United States have gradually resumed bilateral communication. Ukraine said that it is being pressured by the United States to hand over Donbass.

# Global Times | March 27, 2026 | 07:48

The Middle East situation has kept the U.S. focused on the Iran conflict, and Trump has seized the opportunity to pressure Ukraine to hand over the Donbas region to Russia in exchange for security guarantees. Zelenskyy stated that key issues regarding security guarantees remain unresolved. The Russia-U.S.-Ukraine trilateral talks are suspended, but bilateral contacts between Russia and the U.S. are gradually resuming—a Russian parliamentary delegation has arrived in the U.S. for the first time in seven years, with both sides viewing it as an important exploratory step to restore dialogue.

“In my view, U.S. President Trump has still chosen a strategy of putting greater pressure on Ukraine,” Reuters reported on March 25, citing an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said the Middle East situation has undoubtedly influenced Trump and his next moves. With the U.S. focused on the conflict with Iran, Trump is “pressuring Ukraine” to end the over four-year-old Russia-Ukraine war as soon as possible. The U.S. has proposed that Ukraine cede the Donbas region to Russia in exchange for American security guarantees in a peace deal.

Zelenskyy said two critical issues remain unresolved regarding security guarantees: who will fund Ukraine’s weapons purchases to maintain its military deterrence, and how allies will respond if Russia launches any future attacks on Ukraine. The U.S. “is ready to finalize these guarantees at a high level” once Ukraine prepares to withdraw from Donbas. He added that while he did not directly participate in the trilateral talks, he understands the “nuances” of the U.S. position and hopes Washington understands that eastern Ukraine is “part of our security guarantees”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently insisted that full control of the Donbas is a key element of his war goals, to be achieved on the battlefield if not at the negotiating table. In January, Zelenskyy claimed that a U.S.-Ukraine security guarantee document was “100% ready” and only needed signing. However, after U.S.-Ukraine talks in Miami on March 21–22, he said on March 24 that work remained. On March 25, Zelenskyy told Reuters that Russia is “betting” the U.S. will lose interest and walk away from talks if negotiations stall, calling this “a certain risk”.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on March 26 (TASS) that previous rounds of Russia-U.S.-Ukraine trilateral talks made some progress, but no agreement was reached on key issues vital to Russia. Territorial issues are central to Ukraine negotiations, yet no progress has been made. This does not mean Russia has lost interest; it remains open to talks, maintains contact with the U.S., and hopes for a new round as soon as conditions allow.

Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said on March 25 that trilateral talks are suspended for “well-known reasons.” The U.S. has briefed Russia “in great detail” on the outcome of last weekend’s U.S.-Ukraine talks in Florida, and Russia is aware of the current progress. He denied reports of a deal with Ukraine, saying Russia knows nothing about it; no draft agreement has been written, and no one has consulted or discussed it with Moscow.

While trilateral talks are suspended, Russia-U.S. bilateral contacts are gradually resuming. Russia’s *Izvestia* reported on March 26 that a Russian parliamentary delegation arrived in the U.S. on the evening of March 25 local time and will meet with U.S. lawmakers. The last such high-level parliamentary contact between Russia and the U.S. dates back to July 2018. Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the State Duma (lower house), said on March 26 that the delegation’s mission is to restore Russia-U.S. dialogue, calling it an “exploratory meeting” to lay groundwork for future practical cooperation. The delegation includes State Duma Deputy Chairman Alexander Chernyshov and deputy committee heads Vyacheslav Nikonov and Svetlana Zhurova. Peskov said on March 26 that the visiting Russian lawmakers received instructions from Putin, who will be fully briefed on the talks. The meeting is a “much-needed dialogue” between the two countries, and Russia hopes these initial exploratory steps will help further restore bilateral communication, which serves the interests of both sides.

Russian media cited the U.S. Embassy in Russia as saying the Russian lawmakers will meet with U.S. congressmen on March 26 local time and with U.S. officials on March 27. Reuters reported on March 26 that this is the first such visit by Russian lawmakers to the U.S. since Russia-U.S. relations “hit rock bottom” over the Ukraine conflict. The warming of U.S.-Russia ties has raised concerns in Ukraine and its European supporters but is welcomed by Russia.

Separately, TASS reported on March 25 that Russia has warned Japan against deepening military cooperation with Ukraine. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented on Japanese media reports that the government is considering purchasing Ukrainian-made drones, saying such reports show Japan is increasingly involved in military cooperation with Ukraine, amid Kyiv’s public offer to trade drones for other weapons. Russia again warned that any attempt by Japan’s leadership to provide lethal weapons and military equipment to Ukraine will be regarded as a “hostile act” and will trigger “severe retaliation”.

Japan’s Kyodo News earlier quoted Japanese sources as saying the government is studying the purchase of Ukrainian drones. The two sides may sign a weapons delivery agreement including confidentiality clauses, which would pave the way for Japan to supply its own weapons to Ukraine—required under proposed amendments to arms export rules.

Cross-border attacks and fighting between Russia and Ukraine continue. Ukraine’s air force said on March 26 that Russia launched 153 drones into Ukraine on the night of March 25–26, with air defenses shooting down 130. Zelenskyy said on March 25 that Russia is continuing its second phase of winter strikes on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, targeting water systems, reservoirs, dams, and logistics facilities. Russia’s Defense Ministry said on March 26 that its air defenses intercepted and shot down 125 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight. On March 25, the ministry also announced that Russian forces had seized another settlement in the Donetsk region.

Source: Global Times

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