US wants Russia, Ukraine to end war by summer, Zelenskyy says

Kyiv: The United States wants Moscow and Kyiv to find a solution on how to end the war in Ukraine before summer, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

In remarks to reporters released Saturday after Ukraine and Russia held two days of US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi this week, Zelenskyy said Washington had proposed talks in Miami in a week, and that Kyiv had agreed to that.

Zelenskyy also criticised Russia over an overnight attack on Ukrainian energy facilities areas, saying in comments posted on X that Moscow must be deprived of the ability to use the cold winter weather as leverage against Kyiv.


"The Americans are proposing that the parties end the war before the start of summer, and will likely pressure the parties to adhere to this schedule," he added. "The (November mid-term US Congressional) elections are definitely important to them. Let's not be naive. And they say they want to get everything done by June."

Reuters had earlier quoted sources familiar with the matter as saying US and Ukrainian negotiators had discussed how to secure a quick deal. Ukraine had suggested a sequencing plan, Zelenskyy said, without giving many details.

This week's talks in Abu Dhabi concluded without a major breakthrough but Russia and Ukraine agreed to exchange 157 prisoners of war (POWs) each, resuming such swaps after a five-month pause. Zelenskyy said the POW swap would continue.

Washington seeks energy truce

Washington has asked Kyiv and Moscow to agree to a new ceasefire covering strikes on energy infrastructure as a de-escalation step in the talks, Zelenskyy said.

US President Donald Trump said last week that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to a one-week ceasefire. Russia halted strikes on Ukraine's power sector for a few days but unleashed a heavy new attack on February 3. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready to stop attacks on Russian oil facilities and other energy sites. Moscow has yet to agree.

In its attack, Moscow launched over 400 drones and about 40 missiles, targeting Ukraine's power grid, generation facilities and distribution substations, the Ukrainian President said.

Over 1,000 residential apartment buildings are without heating in bitterly cold temperatures in the capital. "Every day, Russia could choose real diplomacy, but it chooses new strikes," Zelenskyy said. "Moscow must be deprived of the ability to use the cold as leverage against Ukraine."

Ukrainian drones struck a plant that makes missile fuel components in the Tver region of western Russia, an official from Ukraine's SBU security service said, adding that even a temporary shutdown could help reduce the intensity of shelling of Ukrainian cities.