US seeks June breakthrough in Russia-Ukraine war, Zelenskyy says after Abu Dhabi talks fall
The United States has intensified diplomatic efforts to end the nearly four-year war between Ukraine and Russia, now in its 1,441th day , with over 300,000 Russian soldiers , at least 55,000 Ukrainian troops , and more than 16,000 civilians confirmed dead, as Washington pushes urgent peace talks, proposes a limited ceasefire , and sets a June deadline for a negotiated settlement, even as Russia escalates massive missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, triggering blackouts and civilian suffering.
US President Donald Trump, who pledged to end the war on his first day in office, has since set and reset informal timelines to drive momentum. His administration is now pressing for a June breakthrough. “If they don’t make a deal, there will be consequences for both sides,” he said, stressing that prolonged war benefits no one.
Washington has proposed holding the next round of trilateral peace talks in Miami, marking the first time negotiations would take place on US soil, with Ukraine confirming its participation. The move follows the collapse of earlier talks in Abu Dhabi after Russia demanded Ukraine’s withdrawal from Donbas , a condition Kyiv firmly rejected. As part of the renewed push, the US suggested a limited ceasefire focused on halting strikes on energy facilities. Ukraine agreed in principle to suspend attacks on Russian oil and gas installations, but Moscow has so far refused. A senior Russian official said, “We will not accept any proposals that weaken our military objectives. Ukraine must recognise the realities on the ground.”
Shortly after rejecting the ceasefire proposal, Russia launched one of its largest missile and drone barrages , firing hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles at power plants, substations, and electricity grids across western and central Ukraine. The strikes caused nationwide blackouts, emergency power cuts, heating disruptions, and civilian casualties during harsh winter conditions. Major thermal power stations were damaged, forcing emergency electricity imports from neighbouring countries, while Poland temporarily suspended flights at two southeastern airports to prioritise military aviation. “Russia deliberately targets our energy system to break civilian morale. This is not warfare, this is terror,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Against this backdrop, Zelenskyy revealed that the United States has given both Kyiv and Moscow until June to reach a peace agreement, warning that Washington would intensify pressure if the deadline is missed. Speaking to reporters, in comments embargoed until Saturday, he said, “The Americans are proposing that the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer. They will probably apply pressure precisely according to this schedule. They want everything done by June and are demanding a clear timetable of all steps.”
US leverage includes tougher sanctions on Russia, tighter curbs on energy and finance, and diplomatic isolation, while Ukraine faces potential limits on military aid, funding, intelligence sharing, and weapons supplies. Trump previously imposed harsh sanctions on Moscow, approved lethal arms for Kyiv, and briefly froze Ukrainian assistance, signalling readiness to pressure both sides. The peace push also covers prisoner exchanges, security guarantees, reconstruction funding, and international monitoring. However, sharp disagreements over Donbas, Crimea, and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant persist. “The price of compromise cannot be the loss of our sovereignty,” Zelenskyy said, highlighting the challenges to ending the war.