US Ambassador to NATO denies President Zelensky’s assertion that America imposed a June deadline for peace talks.
US Ambassador Denies Zelensky’s Words
A few days ago, Volodymyr Zelenski told journalists that the United States had given Ukraine and Russia a deadline of June to reach an agreement. Now, the US Ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, has responded to his words.
The diplomat stated that “the June deadline was mentioned by Volodymyr Zelenski.” – I don’t think that came from the US – he added, quoted by “The Guardian.” – We want the fighting to end. We want both sides to meet and reach a peace agreement. We would prefer this to happen sooner rather than later. We simply want this suffering and killing in Ukraine to end – he said.
American Diplomat Speaks on Peace Agreement
Whitaker then assessed that imposing deadlines in this context can be “very dangerous.” – We want a peace agreement to be signed – he emphasized. – I think we will simply do it as soon as possible. But ultimately, both sides, Russians and Ukrainians, will have to agree on any agreement reached – he added.
Zelensky Suggested Americans Imposed Deadline
– Americans are proposing that the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer and will probably pressure them exactly according to this schedule – said Volodymyr Zelenski in a conversation with journalists, quoted by Associated Press. – They say they want everything done by June. And they will do everything to end the war. They want a clear schedule of all events – he added.
The Ukrainian president’s statement came after the end of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi. During them, as Reuters learned, an “ambitious goal” of Russia and Ukraine reaching a peace agreement by March was mentioned. At the same time, the agency noted, citing its sources, that this deadline may change as the parties did not agree on territory. Key issues include, among others, the Donbas and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
