Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the United States is pressing Moscow and Kyiv to reach an agreement to end the war before the start of summer, following a week of U.S.-brokered talks aimed at de-escalating the conflict.
In remarks released on Saturday, Zelenskiy confirmed that Washington has proposed holding the next round of negotiations in Miami within a week, a plan Kyiv has accepted. The U.S. push for a quick resolution, Zelenskyy said, reflects both strategic urgency and political timing, with American officials reportedly eager to finalize a deal before the U.S. midterm elections in November.
“The Americans are proposing that the parties end the war before the start of this summer, and will likely pressure the parties to adhere to this schedule,” Zelenskyy told reporters. “The elections are definitely more important to them. Let’s not be naive. And they say they want to get everything done by June.”
The comments came after two days of talks in Abu Dhabi, which concluded without a major breakthrough. However, both sides agreed to exchange 157 prisoners of war each, resuming swaps that had been paused for five months. Zelenskyy said prisoner exchanges will continue as part of ongoing negotiations.
Security Guarantees and Energy Ceasefires
Zelenskyy stressed that effective security guarantees are a cornerstone for achieving lasting peace. During the negotiations, Washington reportedly asked both parties to agree to a temporary ceasefire covering attacks on energy infrastructure as an initial de-escalation measure.
Ukraine has expressed readiness to halt attacks on Russian oil facilities and other energy targets, but Moscow has yet to reciprocate. Meanwhile, Russia continued its offensive against Ukrainian energy infrastructure, launching more than 400 drones and around 40 missiles targeting power grids, generation facilities, and distribution substations.
The strikes have left over 1,000 residential apartment buildings in Kyiv without heating during bitterly cold winter conditions. Citizens, including families forced to sleep in subway stations, described the situation as “inhumane,” underscoring the humanitarian toll of attacks on critical infrastructure.
“Every day, Russia could choose real diplomacy, but it chooses new strikes,” Zelenskyy posted on X. “Moscow must be deprived of the ability to use the cold as leverage against Ukraine.”
Military and Economic Discussions Continue
Zelenskyy said military teams from both sides have discussed technical aspects of monitoring potential ceasefires, while Ukrainian officials also presented proposals for security guarantees and postwar economic cooperation, referred to as the “prosperity plan.”
Ukrainian intelligence reports suggested that Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev proposed potential U.S.-Russia cooperation deals worth as much as $12 trillion. Zelenskyy emphasized that any agreements involving Ukraine must not violate the country’s constitution.
On territorial issues, Zelenskyy acknowledged that Ukraine and Russia remain far apart. The U.S. has proposed establishing a free economic zone in the Donetsk region, though neither Kyiv nor Moscow has expressed strong support. Ukraine maintains it will not withdraw from the territory it still holds in Donetsk.
Ongoing Strikes and Retaliation
In retaliation for Russian attacks, Ukrainian military and security officials reported strikes on Russian energy and industrial targets, including an oil depot in Saratov and a missile fuel component plant in the Tver region. These actions highlight the persistent intensity of the conflict even amid diplomatic efforts.
Zelenskyy concluded by reiterating Ukraine’s commitment to diplomacy while holding Moscow accountable for ongoing attacks. The coming weeks are expected to be crucial as the U.S.-facilitated talks in Miami aim to establish a framework for a ceasefire, security guarantees, and a broader roadmap toward ending the war.
Source: Africa Publicity
