US-led efforts to reach a settlement for the war in Ukraine are at risk of stalling as President Donald Trump’s administration shifts its focus toward the escalating conflict in the Middle East, European diplomats and officials said. European officials warned that Moscow is currently benefiting from rising energy prices and a reduction in the threat of new sanctions, complicating the prospects for an agreement to end the war. “The Middle East has severely redirected political attention away from Ukraine,” one EU diplomat said. During a call on Monday, Putin reportedly suggested Russia could mediate to end the Middle East conflict. Peskov stated that Europeans “do not want to help the peace process” and accused them of encouraging Ukraine to continue the war.

Source: Daily News Egypt March 16, 2026 17:10 UTC