US pressing Ukraine, Russia to end war by June: Zelensky

The United States wants Ukraine and Russia to end their nearly four-year war by June, and has offered to host talks between the two sides in Florida next week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

- Agence France-Presse

People take shelter inside a metro station during a Russian overnight missile and drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv on February 7.

(REUTERS)

US-led efforts to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War I have stepped up a gear in recent weeks, but Moscow and Kyiv remain at odds over the key issue of territory.

Russia, which occupies around 20 percent of its neigh-bour, is pushing for full control of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region as part of any deal and has threatened to take it by force if talks fail.

But Ukraine says ceding ground will embolden Moscow and so it will not sign an agreement that fails to deter Russia from invading again.

“The United States has proposed for the first time that the two negotiating teams ~ Ukraine and Russia - meet in the United States, probably in Miami, in a week's time,” Zelensky told reporters in comments made public early Saturday.

“They say that they want to do everything by June,” he added.