Kyiv: The Russia-Ukraine war, which began four years ago, continues despite sustained diplomatic efforts to halt the conflict. While peace talks are underway, both countries have continued military operations. Amid this backdrop, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has revealed that the United States has set a deadline for Russia and Ukraine to end the war by June this year.
Zelenskyy said Washington wants the conflict to conclude before the start of summer and may apply pressure on both sides if hostilities do not cease within the proposed timeframe. He added that the US has conveyed that all military activities should stop by June. Another round of talks is expected to be hosted by the United States, with the proposed trilateral negotiations likely to take place in Miami. Earlier US-mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine were held in Abu Dhabi but failed to yield any progress, as both sides refused to compromise on their core demands. Russia continues to insist that Ukrainian forces withdraw from the Donbas region, a demand Kyiv has rejected.
The Ukrainian President also said there is no clarity on who will manage the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which remains under Russian control. He further noted that the United States has proposed turning the Donbas region into a free trade zone, but expressed uncertainty over whether the proposal would be implemented, stating that Ukraine holds differing views on the matter.