Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says US representatives in trilateral peace talks are proposing that Ukraine and Russia end the war by the summer of 2026. He made the comments to reporters, according to Ukrinform.
Negotiations among Ukraine, the United States and Russia have been underway since January 2026, with two rounds of consultations already completed.
Zelensky said White House envoys participating in the talks — identified as Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner — are expected to press the Ukrainian and Russian delegations to sign a ceasefire agreement this spring, by June.
He linked Washington’s stance to US domestic politics, saying the White House will soon be focused on congressional elections and other internal issues.
The United States will hold midterm elections in November 2026, when the entire House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate are on the ballot. Currently, the Republican Party led by Donald Trump holds a formal majority in both chambers, giving Trump a freer hand in domestic and foreign policy.
Democrats hope to win back the House in the fall, which would limit Trump’s ability to enact his agenda. An impeachment effort is not ruled out, Zelensky suggested, adding that Trump’s attention is therefore likely to shift increasingly to domestic matters.
Direct Ukraine-Russia negotiations on ending the war began in January 2026 with US mediation. US figures Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner are also taking part, making the format trilateral — the first such consultations since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Two rounds have been held so far, on January 23–24 and February 4–5, in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. In January, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to an “energy truce,” which the Kremlin quickly violated, according to Ukraine. In February, the sides agreed to — and carried out — a prisoner exchange, and discussed territorial issues, the fate of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, potential steps toward a truce, and mechanisms to monitor a ceasefire. Kyiv calls the talks constructive. Another trilateral meeting is expected soon in the United States.
