Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the United States has imposed a new deadline for a peace settlement between Ukraine and Russia, aiming for an end to the war by June. The Ukrainian president disclosed this during a press briefing, noting that the Trump administration is pushing for a resolution within this timeframe.
Zelenskyy indicated that the US will likely exert pressure on both Kyiv and Moscow to achieve peace by early summer. “They say they want to get everything done by June,” he said, adding that Washington seeks a clear schedule of events. He also mentioned that if the deadline is not met, further pressure would be applied.
This is not the first such deadline. Before taking office, Donald Trump promised to end the war in 24 hours. His envoy, Keith Kellogg, later suggested a 100-day timeline after inauguration. Subsequent deadlines in August and December also passed without a breakthrough, though Trump claimed a draft agreement was nearly 95% complete.
Recent US-led peace talks in Abu Dhabi over two days failed to produce a deal, though Ukraine’s presidential office head, Kyrylo Budanov, described them as “genuinely constructive.” Zelenskyy confirmed that the next round of trilateral talks is proposed to be held in the US, likely in Miami, within a week, and Ukraine has agreed to participate.
Zelenskyy hinted that the June deadline may be tied to Trump’s midterm election campaign, saying, “The elections are definitely more important for them. Let’s not be naive.” He added that if Russia is genuinely ready to end the war, setting a deadline is crucial.
