US wants Ukraine conflict to end by summer – Zelensky
The US wants the Russia-Ukraine conflict to be resolved by summer before focusing on domestic issues, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has said.
The remarks come after the second round of trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the US in Abu Dhabi earlier this week.
Like the first round in January, the negotiations were held behind closed doors, with no details shared by either side, other than Russia and the US calling the talks “productive” and “constructive.” The latest negotiations have yielded an exchange of 314 prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Zelensky said Washington is ready to push both sides to speed up the settlement process.
“The Americans are proposing that the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer and will likely pressure them to adhere to this timetable,” he claimed.
The Ukrainian leader suggested that Washington’s desire to speed up the settlement process stems from “domestic issues” that are becoming “more pressing for it,” apparently referring to the upcoming US midterm election. The American side has offered to host a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian sides in Miami, he said, adding that it could occur within a week.
Zelensky also reiterated his refusal to withdraw Ukrainian forces from the parts of Donbass it still controls, confirming that Kiev’s stance on territorial concessions remains unchanged. Both Russia and the US have said that territorial issues remain the main sticking point in the peace process.
Russia has insisted that a settlement must include Ukraine’s withdrawal from the areas within the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics that are still under its control. The republics, which broke away from Kiev in the aftermath of the 2014 Maidan coup, overwhelmingly voted to join Russia in late 2022. Kiev has refused to recognize the referendums and ruled out any territorial concessions.
