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President Trump has set a June deadline to end the four-year war in Ukraine, the country’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
At a press conference in Kyiv, Zelensky said US officials have provided a timeline to end hostilities by the beginning of the summer, and will increase pressure on both parties if the war is not brought to an end by then.
“The Americans are proposing the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer,” Zelenskyy said.
Washington wants “a clear schedule of all events,” he added, and will apply pressure “precisely according to this schedule” if progress falters.
Zelensky went on to say that US officials were prepared to “do everything” to end the war; although he did not say exactly what that means.
The latest round of trilateral talks between the US, Ukraine and Russia took place this week in Abu Dhabi.
Representatives of all three countries described the talks as constructive. A prisoner swap—157 soldiers each—was agreed.
On Friday, President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that “we had very, very good talks today, having to do with Russia, Ukraine.”
“Something could be happening,” the President added.
According to Ukraine’s Defense Minister, Rustem Umerov, the talks focused on the implementation and monitoring of a ceasefire.
“Ukraine expresses its gratitude to Donald Trump for his leadership in advancing efforts aimed at ending the war,” Umerov said.
“Further meetings are planned in the near future, likely in the United States,” P said, adding that Ukraine remains open to “all workable formats” that could bring peace closer.
He said that any settlement must ensure Russia “has no appetite to continue the war” and receives “no reward for its aggression.”
“Further meetings are planned in the near future, likely in the United States,” President Zelensky said.
He added that while Ukraine remains open to “all workable formats” to achieve peace, the settlement must ensure Russia “has no appetite to continue the war” and receives “no reward for its aggression.”
Fighting remains intense in the eastern Donbas region, which Moscow wants to retain full control of after the war.
Large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have continued, including an attack on Saturday night involving more than 400 drones and 40 missiles.
