US Pushes Ukraine and Russia to End War by June, Zelensky Says
The United States is pressing Ukraine and Russia to end their nearly four-year war by June and has offered to host talks between the two sides in Florida next week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Zelensky told reporters that the US proposal would bring Ukrainian and Russian negotiators together in Miami, marking the first time the two sides would meet on American soil. “They say that they want to do everything by June,” he added.
Despite recent US-led mediation, including two rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi, the conflict remains unresolved, primarily over territorial disputes. Russia occupies around 20 percent of Ukraine, including parts of the eastern Donetsk region, and has threatened to seize it by force if negotiations fail. Ukraine has refused to cede territory, warning that such concessions would embolden Moscow and undermine future security.
Ukraine has also rejected proposals to create a “free economic zone” in the Donetsk region without clear guarantees. Both sides have yet to reach an agreement on control of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, which Russia has held since the start of the conflict.
Meanwhile, Russia has continued attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving millions without heating or electricity amid freezing temperatures. Ukraine requested emergency assistance from Poland after Russian strikes damaged two major power plants in western Ukraine, causing widespread blackouts.
The war, which began in February 2022, has left tens of thousands dead, destroyed cities, and displaced millions, making it Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
