KYIV, Ukraine : The United States has set June as the target for Ukraine and Russia to reach a formal peace agreement, according to statements released Saturday by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The proposed timeline reflects an intensified diplomatic effort by Washington to bring the nearly four-year war to a negotiated conclusion before the start of summer.
Zelenskyy said the U.S. administration has also proposed a new round of trilateral negotiations involving the United States, Ukraine, and Russia to be held in Miami within the next week. Ukrainian officials have confirmed Kyiv’s participation in the talks.
Outcome of Abu Dhabi Discussions
The announcement follows two days of U.S.-mediated negotiations in Abu Dhabi, which ended without agreement on major political or territorial issues. Negotiators described the discussions as constructive, but acknowledged that no comprehensive framework was finalized.
The most tangible result was a humanitarian agreement on a prisoner exchange. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that 314 individuals were exchanged, with each side releasing 157 detainees. Russia stated that three civilians from the Kursk region were included among those returned.
Core Disputes Remain Unresolved
Substantive differences continue to block progress. Russia has reiterated its demand that Ukraine withdraw fully from the Donbas region, a position Kyiv has rejected. Zelenskyy has maintained that any settlement must include security guarantees designed to prevent renewed hostilities.
Economic proposals were also discussed. Russian negotiators reportedly presented a long-term economic plan valued at approximately $12 trillion, described by Ukrainian officials as the “Dmitriev package.” U.S. mediators additionally raised the idea of designating Donbas as a free economic zone, an approach Kyiv has treated cautiously.
On energy and infrastructure, Washington proposed a reciprocal halt to attacks on power facilities. Ukrainian officials indicated readiness to comply, while noting that a previous limited pause collapsed after several days. Talks also failed to reach agreement on oversight or control arrangements for the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Military Developments During Talks
Diplomatic efforts have continued amid intensified military activity. On Saturday, Russian forces launched a large-scale aerial assault involving more than 400 drones and 40 missiles, primarily targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
According to state energy operator Ukrenergo, strikes damaged facilities across eight regions, forcing nuclear power plants in government-controlled areas to reduce output. The resulting power shortfall led to expanded rolling outages nationwide.
Focus of Upcoming Miami Meeting
Ukrainian officials said the proposed Miami talks are expected to concentrate on technical issues, including ceasefire monitoring mechanisms and economic arrangements. Zelenskyy indicated that decisions on sovereignty and final territorial status would likely require direct engagement between national leaders.
U.S. officials have signaled that additional diplomatic pressure may follow if the June timeline is not met, underscoring Washington’s intent to maintain momentum toward a negotiated settlement.
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