Washington Denies Zelenskyy’s "June Deadline": NATO Envoy Rebuts Claims of a U.S.-Imposed Timetable for Peace

U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, has officially denied claims by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Washington is pushing for a conflict resolution by June. While Whitaker acknowledged the U.S. interest in ending the war "as soon as possible," he clarified that no specific deadline has been set, contradicting Zelenskyy’s earlier statements about a proposed settlement before the summer and the upcoming U.S. midterm elections.

The diplomatic friction arises despite recent progress in Abu Dhabi, where both sides agreed to exchange 314 prisoners of war. Zelenskyy had suggested that the U.S. is prioritizing its domestic political calendar, pushing for a "Miami Summit" next week to finalize a deal. This denial from the U.S. mission to NATO suggests a strategic disagreement over the pace of diplomacy, with Kyiv fearing a rushed settlement while Washington maintains a more cautious public stance.