Abu dhabi: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the United States is proposing for the Russia-Ukraine war to conclude ‘by the beginning of this summer.’ This proposal was discussed during remarks to journalists, which were published by Ukrainian media outlets including the state news agency Ukrinform.
According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy highlighted that internal issues in the US, particularly the upcoming midterm election campaign, influence this proposed deadline. He responded to inquiries about the possibility of the US withdrawing from peace talks if the deadline is not adhered to, asserting that he has not received any indication of such a development from Ukraine’s delegation following recent discussions in the UAE.
Zelenskyy explained that the US might shift its focus towards Congress if the deadline is not met. He emphasized the US commitment to ending the war by June and mentioned that Ukraine plans to propose a “sequence plan” for adopting documents related to the war’s conclusion. The US has already suggested initiatives to synchronize agreements for ending the conflict.
The Ukrainian president’s statements came after two-day negotiations in Abu Dhabi involving Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington, which also led to the first prisoner exchange in five months between Russia and Ukraine. Prior talks occurred in the UAE capital on January 23-24.
Zelenskyy revealed that the US proposed hosting a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Miami, likely within a week. He indicated that the US has requested both parties to support former President Donald Trump’s initiative to stop energy strikes, with Kyiv agreeing but Moscow yet to respond.
He also mentioned ongoing efforts between Moscow and Kyiv to arrange future prisoner swaps, with a post-war recovery package for Ukraine to be agreed trilaterally among the US, Ukraine, and Europe. Additionally, French President Emmanuel Macron is pursuing an “alternative” dialogue with Russia to ensure European involvement in the negotiation process.
Regarding a potential ceasefire, Zelenskyy disclosed that the US agreed to participate in its monitoring, alongside Russia and Ukraine, once an agreement is reached. Delegations are currently discussing the specifics of this arrangement. He noted unresolved issues concerning the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and broader territorial disputes, affirming his willingness to address territorial matters at the leadership level.