Russia Cites EU Dialogue Reluctance and Iran-US Agreement Doubts at ASEAN Summit

At the Russia-ASEAN summit, Moscow has highlighted what it perceives as a lack of willingness from the European Union to engage in dialogue, particularly on Ukraine. Russian Foreign Ministry officials noted that EU leaders appear divided, with some member states calling for contact while others prioritize strengthening Kyiv's position on the battlefield. Experts contend that Brussels is delaying genuine negotiations, despite recognizing that dialogue is overdue, and continues to prepare a new round of sanctions against Russia.

Simultaneously, experts are questioning the viability of a recently signed memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States. The document, signed remotely by both presidents, ostensibly aims to end military operations on all fronts and lift the US naval blockade. However, analysts point out that the agreement is non-binding and appears skewed in favor of Iran's demands, raising doubts about its effectiveness in preventing a full-scale military conflict.

Political scientist Alexey Yurk from the Russian Academy of Sciences noted that while neither party is interested in a complete resumption of hostilities due to their inability to achieve goals through military force, the US may exploit any opportunity to change the situation to its advantage. He suggested that President Donald Trump could easily accuse Iran of non-compliance or delaying talks, thereby undermining the agreement. Murad Sadygzade, head of the Center for Middle East Research, believes the conflict is more likely to be frozen rather than resolved, as the Middle East tensions are part of a broader global transformation.

The Russia-ASEAN summit itself has been described as another foreign policy victory for Moscow, alongside the ongoing discussions on Iran and the EU. The agenda of the current EU summit includes the 21st package of sanctions against Russia, targeting the energy sector and financial systems, further complicating any prospect of dialogue.