The US has given Russia and Ukraine until the end of June to end the nearly four-year war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The deadline follows two rounds of trilateral talks involving the US, Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi, the UAE, with the third round expected to take place in Miami in mid-February.
June Deadline
Following the conclusion of the second round of trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi, Zelensky told reporters on Saturday that the Trump administration wanted the two parties to reach a deal before the end of June.
“The Americans are proposing the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer and will probably put pressure on the parties precisely according to this schedule,” he said.
“And they say that they want to do everything by June. And they will do everything to end the war, and they want a clear schedule of all events,” he noted.
Trilateral Talks
Senior officials from the US, Russia and Ukraine have engaged in peace talks in the Emirati capital. The Friday round did not bring any breakthrough, according to BBC.
Zelensky pointed out that “difficult issues remained difficult,” including territorial concessions demanded from Ukraine. “Ukraine once again confirmed its positions on the Donbas issue. ‘We stand where we stand’ is the fairest and most reliable model for a ceasefire today, in our opinion,” he said.
The Ukrainian leader added that the US proposed hosting the third round of talks next week in Miami. “America proposed for the first time that the two negotiating teams – Ukraine and Russia – meet in the United States of America, probably in Miami, in a week. We confirmed our participation,” he said.
Moreover, Zelensky said that they discussed the possibility of holding a trilateral meeting convening the three countries’ leaders to resolve the sticking issues. However, he noted that “preparatory elements are needed for this.”
Proposed Plans
Russia proposed a $12 trillion economic plan to the US, known as the “Dmitriev package,” Zelensky said, noting that any agreements between Washington and Moscow must comply with Ukraine’s constitution.
He added that the US proposed a ceasefire that bans strikes on energy infrastructure. In response, the Ukrainian leader expressed Kyiv’s readiness to halt attacks on Russian energy facilities, according to Reuters.
Additionally, Zelensky confirmed that military delegations have conducted detailed technical reviews on monitoring a potential ceasefire. The discussions also covered “the prosperity plan” – a strategic economic framework designed to drive the nation’s post-war recovery and long-term security guarantees.
Energy Attacks
Despite the ongoing negotiations, Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure continue unabated. On Friday night, Russia launched over 400 drones and about 40 missiles, targeting Ukraine’s energy facilities.
“The main targets were the energy grid, generation facilities, and distribution substations,” Zelensky said in a statement, noting that damage had been reported in at least four regions.
“Every day, Russia could choose real diplomacy, but it chooses new strikes. It is crucial that everyone who supports the trilateral negotiations respond to this. Moscow must be deprived of the ability to use the cold as leverage against Ukraine,” he added.
