US Pushes Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks by June

KYIV/WASHINGTON (Web Desk) — The United States wants Ukraine and Russia to bring an end to their nearly four-year-long war by June and has offered to host direct talks between the two sides in Florida next week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

According to Zelensky, Washington has proposed for the first time that Ukrainian and Russian negotiating teams meet on US soil, likely in Miami, as diplomatic efforts intensify to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. He said the United States is keen to fast-track progress and conclude a deal within the coming months.

Despite renewed mediation, major differences remain unresolved. Russia, which occupies about 20 percent of Ukrainian territory, is demanding full control of the eastern Donetsk region and has warned it will seize the area by force if talks fail. Ukraine has rejected territorial concessions, arguing that surrendering land would only encourage future aggression.

Zelensky said Kyiv has proposed freezing the conflict along current front lines, but Moscow has dismissed the idea. He added that Washington has suggested converting Ukrainian-held areas of Donetsk into a “free economic zone” without military presence, though Ukraine insists any such arrangement must include firm and enforceable guarantees.

Disagreements also persist over control of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, with Zelensky stressing that Ukraine will not accept decisions made about its future without Kyiv’s involvement.

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Meanwhile, Russia has continued large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Recent strikes forced Ukraine’s nuclear power plants to reduce output, raising fears of a nuclear safety incident. The UN’s nuclear watchdog has urged restraint as fighting continues alongside fragile diplomatic efforts.