The United States has imposed a June deadline for Ukraine and Russia to reach an agreement ending their nearly four-year war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed Saturday, warning that Washington will likely apply pressure on both parties to meet that timeline,
The revelation comes as diplomatic efforts intensify, with the Trump administration proposing that Ukrainian and Russian delegations meet in the United States, probably in Miami, in a week’s time, marking the first time peace talks would take place on American soil since the conflict began.
“They say they want to get everything done by June,” Zelenskyy said in remarks published Saturday by the Presidency.
“And they will do everything to end the war. They want a clear schedule of events.”
The timeline reflects President Donald Trump’s determination to deliver on his campaign promise to swiftly end the war, though the path to peace remains fraught with fundamental disagreements over territory, security guarantees, and Ukraine’s geopolitical future.
At the heart of the impasse lies Russia’s demand for control of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.
Moscow occupies approximately 20% of Ukraine but is pushing for full control of the Donetsk oblast as part of any settlement, including areas still defended by Ukrainian forces.
“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, referring to Ukraine’s preference for freezing the conflict at current battle lines.
The U.S. has proposed a compromise that would transform disputed Donbas areas into free economic zones, but Zelenskyy expressed skepticism, saying he did not know whether this could be implemented because the sides had different views on it.
Another contentious issue involves the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, which Russia has occupied since early in the war.
Zelenskyy said no common ground was reached on managing the Russian-held facility.
Despite the challenges, the negotiating process has gained momentum following two rounds of U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi in January and early February.
The second round concluded with a tangible humanitarian achievement: Ukraine and Russia each handed over 157 prisoners of war on February 5, with officials from both countries and the United States confirming the exchange had taken place .
The discussions have also yielded progress on procedural matters.
The U.S. has reaffirmed it would play a role in monitoring how a ceasefire would be technically implemented, addressing one of Ukraine’s key concerns about enforcement mechanisms.
Meanwhile, separate economic discussions are underway. Zelenskyy said Russia presented the U.S. with a $12 trillion economic proposal, which he dubbed the “Dmitriev package” after Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
These bilateral economic deals between Washington and Moscow form part of the broader negotiating framework.
Even as diplomacy advances, Russia continues to devastate Ukraine’s energy system during one of the coldest winters in years.
Zelenskyy said on Saturday that Russia launched “more than 400 drones and around 40 missiles” overnight, targeting Ukraine’s energy sector.
The attacks have left hundreds of thousands without heat or electricity.
Ukrainian officials said Russia had struck energy infrastructure 217 times this year, with Ukrainian energy minister Denys Shmyhal reporting that 200 emergency crews were working to restore power to 1,100 buildings in Kyiv alone
Zelenskyy said the U.S. again proposed a ceasefire banning strikes on energy infrastructure, noting that Ukraine is ready to observe such a pause if Russia commits.
However, he pointed out that when Moscow previously agreed to a one-week pause suggested by the U.S., it was violated after just four days.
“Moscow must be deprived of the ability to use the cold as leverage against Ukraine,” Zelenskyy wrote on X, calling on all supporters of trilateral negotiations to respond to Russia’s continued strikes.
As negotiations proceed, Zelenskyy has grown increasingly vocal about Ukraine’s bottom lines and concerns about being sidelined in decisions affecting its future.
The Ukrainian leader said he would not tolerate Washington and Moscow making deals behind Kyiv’s back, especially if they related to Ukrainian sovereignty.
This reflects longstanding Ukrainian fears of a grand bargain between superpowers at Ukraine’s expense, echoes of historical agreements that have shaped Eastern European boundaries without local input.
Ukraine has repeatedly expressed frustration at what it perceives as disproportionate pressure to make concessions.
While Russia faces demands to end its aggression, Ukraine confronts expectations to cede territory, limit its military, and potentially abandon NATO aspirations, all while the aggressor maintains most of its gains.
The June deadline and upcoming Miami talks represent the Trump administration’s most concrete effort yet to broker a settlement.
President Trump has dispatched special envoy Steve Witkoff to lead U.S. efforts, with Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, also playing a significant role in the negotiations.
Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin had “kept his word” with a weeklong promise not to hit the capital or critical energy facilities, adding “It’s a lot, you know, one week, we’ll take anything, because it’s really, really cold over there”.
When asked if he was disappointed Putin had not extended the pause, he replied he would like him to.
The administration’s approach has faced criticism in Europe and among Ukraine’s supporters for appearing to favor Russian positions, particularly on territorial concessions.
Nevertheless, Washington maintains it is pursuing a realistic path to peace that acknowledges the military situation on the ground.
The diplomatic push comes as Russia continues its grinding offensive in eastern Ukraine, making incremental gains at enormous cost.
Ukraine, meanwhile, faces ongoing challenges with manpower, ammunition supplies, and the relentless degradation of its energy infrastructure.
Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev told state media that negotiations were moving forward in a “good, positive direction”, suggesting Moscow sees diplomatic progress aligned with its interests.
For Ukraine, the calculus is excruciating. Accepting a deal that legitimizes Russian conquests could undermine the very principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that underpin the international order.
Rejecting such a deal risks losing critical U.S. support and facing an indefinite war of attrition against a larger adversary.
The planned Miami talks will test whether U.S. mediation can bridge what remains a vast chasm between the parties.
Beyond the immediate challenges of territory and security arrangements lie deeper questions about Ukraine’s future orientation, Russia’s reintegration into the global economy, and the broader European security architecture.
“If the Russians are really ready to end the war, then it is really important to set a deadline,” Zelenskyy said, endorsing the principle of a timeline while clearly harboring doubts about Moscow’s genuine commitment to peace.
As winter deepens and the humanitarian toll mounts, the June deadline looms as both a hopeful target and a potential source of additional pressure on a country that has already sacrificed enormously in defense of its sovereignty.
Whether this timeline proves realistic or merely another milestone in a prolonged diplomatic struggle remains to be seen.
For now, Zelenskyy said prisoner-of-war swaps will continue with Russia under the agreement, a small but meaningful indicator that even amid profound disagreements, the mechanisms of dialogue remain intact.
