Zelenskyy says US set June deadline for Ukraine-Russia war deal
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Zelenskyy said Washington was pushing for a settlement "by the beginning of this summer" and may apply pressure on both sides to meet the timeline.
The United States has proposed a June deadline for Ukraine and Russia to reach an agreement to end the nearly four-year-long war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as fresh Russian strikes on energy infrastructure forced Ukraine’s nuclear power plants to reduce output on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Zelenskyy said Washington was pushing for a settlement “by the beginning of this summer” and may apply pressure on both sides to meet the timeline.
“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, adding that the Trump administration was likely to intensify efforts if the deadline is not met.
Zelenskyy also said the US had suggested holding the next round of trilateral talks in the United States next week for the first time, possibly in Miami, and that Ukraine has confirmed participation.
“We confirmed our participation,” he said.
The June deadline comes after US-brokered trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi ended without a breakthrough, with both Russia and Ukraine holding firm to opposing demands. Russia continues to insist Ukraine withdraw from the Donbas region, where fighting remains intense, while Kyiv has refused to accept the condition.
“Difficult issues remained difficult. 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,” Zelenskyy said, noting that the most contentious matters would likely be addressed only in a leaders-level meeting.
He said negotiators failed to find common ground on the management of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and voiced doubts over a US proposal to turn the Donbas region into a free economic zone as a possible compromise.
“I do not know whether this can be implemented, because when we talked about a free economic zone, we had different views on it,” he said.
Zelenskyy added that talks also focused on how a ceasefire could be monitored and that the US reaffirmed its willingness to play a role in the process.
Meanwhile, Russia continued its aerial assault on Ukraine’s power system. Zelenskyy said more than 400 drones and around 40 missiles were launched overnight on Saturday, targeting energy grids, power generation facilities and distribution networks.
Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s state power transmission operator, said the attack was the second major strike on energy infrastructure since the start of the year and hit eight facilities across eight regions. The strikes, it said, damaged key high-voltage substations and forced all nuclear plants operating in government-controlled territory to cut output.
“As a result of missile strikes on key high-voltage substations that ensured the output of nuclear power units, all nuclear power plants in the territories under control were forced to reduce their load,” Ukrenergo said.
The operator warned that the attacks significantly increased the country’s power deficit, prompting extended hourly power cuts across all regions.
The United States has proposed a June deadline for Ukraine and Russia to reach an agreement to end the nearly four-year-long war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as fresh Russian strikes on energy infrastructure forced Ukraine’s nuclear power plants to reduce output on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Zelenskyy said Washington was pushing for a settlement “by the beginning of this summer” and may apply pressure on both sides to meet the timeline.
“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, adding that the Trump administration was likely to intensify efforts if the deadline is not met.
Zelenskyy also said the US had suggested holding the next round of trilateral talks in the United States next week for the first time, possibly in Miami, and that Ukraine has confirmed participation.
“We confirmed our participation,” he said.
The June deadline comes after US-brokered trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi ended without a breakthrough, with both Russia and Ukraine holding firm to opposing demands. Russia continues to insist Ukraine withdraw from the Donbas region, where fighting remains intense, while Kyiv has refused to accept the condition.
“Difficult issues remained difficult. 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,” Zelenskyy said, noting that the most contentious matters would likely be addressed only in a leaders-level meeting.
He said negotiators failed to find common ground on the management of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and voiced doubts over a US proposal to turn the Donbas region into a free economic zone as a possible compromise.
“I do not know whether this can be implemented, because when we talked about a free economic zone, we had different views on it,” he said.
Zelenskyy added that talks also focused on how a ceasefire could be monitored and that the US reaffirmed its willingness to play a role in the process.
Meanwhile, Russia continued its aerial assault on Ukraine’s power system. Zelenskyy said more than 400 drones and around 40 missiles were launched overnight on Saturday, targeting energy grids, power generation facilities and distribution networks.
Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s state power transmission operator, said the attack was the second major strike on energy infrastructure since the start of the year and hit eight facilities across eight regions. The strikes, it said, damaged key high-voltage substations and forced all nuclear plants operating in government-controlled territory to cut output.
“As a result of missile strikes on key high-voltage substations that ensured the output of nuclear power units, all nuclear power plants in the territories under control were forced to reduce their load,” Ukrenergo said.
The operator warned that the attacks significantly increased the country’s power deficit, prompting extended hourly power cuts across all regions.