Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says the US wants the war with Russia to end by June, adding that both sides had been invited to the US for talks next week.
“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.
There was no immediate comment from Washington or Moscow, but US President Donald Trump has been pushing for an end for the conflict since he took office again more than a year ago.
Meanwhile, Russia has continued its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure – causing further widespread blackouts during freezing conditions.
In comments released on Saturday, Zelensky told reporters about what had taken place during the second round of US-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi, which ended on Friday with no reports of a breakthrough.
Zelensky said “difficult issues remained difficult”, including territorial concessions that Ukraine is under pressure to make.
He said the parties discussed, for the first time, the possibility of a trilateral meeting between leaders, not simply representatives, but cautioned that “preparatory elements are needed for this”.
Asked whether a time frame had been given for an agreement, the Ukrainian leader replied: “The Americans say that they want to do everything by June.
“Why before this summer?” he added. “We understand that their domestic issues in the US will have an impact.” Zelensky did not elaborate on what these issues are.
Russia has not commented about any of the latest attacks.
Moscow renewed its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on Monday after a week-long pause that US President Donald Trump had asked Vladimir Putin to observe due to the fierce cold in Ukraine.
DTEK said the combined missile and drone strikes caused “the most powerful blow” to infrastructure so far this year.
“Moscow must be deprived of the ability to use the cold as leverage against Ukraine,” Zelensky wrote on X on Saturday, responding to the latest strikes.
Russia has also accused Kyiv of not being serious about securing a lasting peace. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday blamed Ukraine for the shooting of a high-profile general in Russia’s military, saying it was aimed at “disrupting the negotiation process”.
It is not yet known who was behind the shooting.
Some 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Zelensky said earlier this week. The BBC has confirmed the names of almost 160,000 people killed fighting on Russia’s side in Ukraine.
