Washington is pushing Ukraine and Russia to reach a deal to end Moscow’s war on Kyiv by June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters Friday. 

The two negotiating groups plan to meet in the U.S., likely in a week in Miami, as President Trump hopes for a win ahead of the fall 2026 election season.

“Elections are definitely more important to them. Let’s not be naive,” Zelenskyy said. 

The Ukraine leader voiced concern that under that imperative Trump could strike a deal with Russia, leaving Ukraine out of negotiations about its own status. 

“If there are any bilateral agreements between Russia and the United States, the points that will be related to Ukraine cannot contradict the constitution of Ukraine, the laws of Ukraine, and they should not be discussed without Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. 

Pressure for the meeting is mounting on other fronts as well, with ongoing Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power grid forcing power plants to cut output even as nighttime low temperatures have plummeted to minus 20 degrees Celsius. Russia launched another 400 drones and around 40 missiles overnight Saturday, Zelenskyy said on X. 

Ukraine wants to end the war, he said, but needs a clear plan. 

“So that everyone understands what the parties are going for, at what moment, at what stages. So that the war does not drag on,” he said. “If the Russians are really ready to end the war, then it is really important to fix the terms.”

Veronika Melkozerova contributed reporting.