U.S. Disputes Zelensky's Claims on War Resolution Timeline in Ukraine
The U.S. permanent representative to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, has rejected claims made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the United States is aiming to conclude the conflict in Ukraine by the summer.
In comments to The Guardian, Whitaker stated, "Zelensky mentioned a deadline in June; I don't believe the United States has set that timeline," underscoring that while Washington seeks to resolve the conflict "as soon as possible," no specific date has been established.
Conversely, Zelensky asserted that the U.S. is advocating for a resolution before summer, suggesting a new round of negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv in Miami within a week, to which Ukraine has consented.
He remarked: "The Americans are suggesting that both parties conclude the war before summer, and they are likely to exert pressure on both sides to follow this timeline."
Zelensky also pointed to the political landscape in the U.S., noting: "There is no doubt that the elections (the midterm congressional elections in November) are a priority for them, and they express a desire to achieve results by June."
This statement follows the second round of trilateral discussions involving Russia, the United States, and Ukraine, which took place on February 4 and 5 in Abu Dhabi.
According to U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Moscow and Kyiv have reached an agreement to exchange 314 prisoners of war, with ongoing discussions regarding the resolution of the conflict expected to continue in the upcoming weeks, as reported by TASS.
