US Sets June Deadline for Ukraine War Deal, Zelensky Says

Speaking to reporters, Zelensky said the Trump administration wants the war to end by the beginning of summer and is seeking a clear timeline for negotiations and implementation.

“The Americans are proposing the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer,” Zelensky said, adding that the US intends to apply pressure in line with that schedule if progress stalls.

His remarks were made on Friday but were embargoed until Saturday morning.

Next Talks May Be Held in the US

Zelensky said Washington proposed holding the next round of trilateral talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the US next week in the United States for the first time, likely in Miami.

“We confirmed our participation,” he said.

He added that Russia had presented the US with a $12 trillion economic proposal, referred to as the “Dmitriev package” after Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, with bilateral economic arrangements forming part of the broader negotiations.

Energy Infrastructure Under Heavy Attack

Meanwhile, Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure continued overnight into Saturday. Zelensky said Russia launched more than 400 drones and around 40 missiles, targeting power grids, generation facilities and distribution networks.

Ukraine’s state energy transmission operator Ukrenergo said the attack was the second mass strike on energy infrastructure this year and forced nuclear power plants to reduce output.

“As a result of missile strikes on key high-voltage substations, all nuclear power plants in territories under Ukrainian control were forced to reduce their load,” the company said.

Power Shortages Worsen Nationwide

Ukrenergo said eight facilities across eight regions were hit, significantly increasing the country’s power deficit and forcing an extension of hourly power outages nationwide.

Repeated Russian aerial assaults have focused on Ukraine’s power grid in recent months, causing blackouts and disrupting heating and water supplies during winter.

No Breakthrough on Key Disputes

The June deadline follows US brokered talks in Abu Dhabi that failed to produce a breakthrough. Zelensky said major disagreements remain, particularly over Donbas, where Russia is demanding a Ukrainian withdrawal a condition Kyiv rejects.

“Ukraine once again confirmed its positions on the Donbas issue. ‘We stand where we stand’ is the most reliable model for a ceasefire today,” he said.

Nuclear Plant and Ceasefire Challenges

Zelensky said no common ground was reached on the future of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and voiced skepticism about a US proposal to turn Donbas into a free economic zone.

He added that negotiators discussed how a ceasefire would be monitored, with the US reaffirming it would play a role in oversight.

Washington has again proposed a halt to strikes on energy infrastructure. Ukraine is ready to comply, Zelensky said, but noted that a previous US brokered pause was violated by Russia after just four days.