Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly announced that the United States has established a new deadline for Ukraine and Russia to finalise a peace agreement, aiming for a resolution by June. This revelation came during a press briefing in Kyiv, coinciding with a visit from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, underscoring the ongoing diplomatic engagements surrounding the conflict.
US Pressure and Proposed Talks
Zelenskyy indicated that the Trump administration is likely to exert significant pressure on both nations to conclude the war by the start of summer. He stated, "They say they want to get everything done by June," emphasising the US desire for a clear timeline of events. If this June deadline is not met, Washington is expected to intensify its efforts to broker a deal, according to the Ukrainian leader.
Historical Context of Deadlines
This is not the first time the US has set a target for peace. Prior to taking office, Donald Trump famously pledged to "end the war in 24 hours," a promise that proved unattainable. Subsequently, his special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, suggested an agreement could be reached within 100 days of Trump's inauguration. After that failed, a deadline was set for August last year, which also passed without progress, followed by claims in December that a draft agreement was nearly "95% done."
Recent Diplomatic Efforts
Two days of US-led peace talks were held this week in Abu Dhabi, though they did not yield a breakthrough. Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's presidential office, described the trilateral negotiations as "genuinely constructive." In a development, Zelenskyy confirmed on Saturday that the Trump administration has proposed hosting the next round of these talks in the United States, likely in Miami, within a week's time, with Ukraine already confirming its participation.
Political Motivations and Realities
Zelenskyy hinted that the new June deadline might be influenced by Trump's midterm elections campaign, remarking, "The [midterm] elections are definitely more important for them [the Americans]. Let's not be naive." He added that setting a deadline is crucial if Russia is genuinely prepared to end the hostilities, highlighting the complex interplay between domestic US politics and international diplomacy in this protracted conflict.
