US and Ukrainian envoys describe Miami talks as productive but announce no breakthrough in ending the war with Russia, as fighting continues.
MIAMI: US and Ukrainian envoys have issued a joint statement hailing “productive and constructive” talks in Miami but announced no apparent breakthrough in efforts to end the war with Russia.
Top representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and Kyiv’s European allies were in southern Florida for separate talks hosted by US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
The meetings were the latest in a diplomatic push to end the war, following a US proposal last month that was later redrafted with input from Ukraine and Europe.
Special envoy Steve Witkoff (pic) and Ukraine’s top negotiator, Rustem Umerov, issued separate statements on social media platform X.
They said a bilateral US-Ukraine meeting focused on developing positions on a “20-point plan,” a multilateral security framework, a US security guarantee for Ukraine, and an economic plan.
“Particular attention was given to discussing timelines and the sequencing of next steps,” they stated, without announcing further meetings.
National security advisors from Kyiv’s European allies also joined discussions to align on a shared strategic approach.
Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev was also in Florida and met with the US delegation, which included Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Witkoff similarly described the meetings with Dmitriev as “productive and constructive.”
Earlier, the Kremlin said recent proposed changes to the peace plan were a non-starter.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Dmitriev would receive information on the plan’s developments and report back to Moscow.
Moscow, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022, views Europe as pro-war and argues its participation hinders talks.
While details of the latest plans are scarce, Kyiv is likely expected to surrender some territory in exchange for US security guarantees.
The Kremlin had earlier ruled out three-way talks involving both Moscow and Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier described the talks as “constructive” and said they were “moving at a fairly rapid pace.”
He cautioned that “much depends on whether Russia feels the need to end the war for real.”
Zelensky also hailed this week as “historic” for Ukraine, thanking Europe for pledging $100 billion in funding over the next two years.
Russian troops have been steadily advancing on the eastern front in recent months.
President Vladimir Putin on Friday hailed the Russian army’s territorial gains and threatened more in the coming weeks.
Zelensky said that just over the past week, Russia launched approximately 1,300 attack drones, nearly 1,200 guided aerial bombs, and nine missiles against Ukraine.
Most strikes have targeted the Black Sea region of Odesa, damaging ports, bridges and energy facilities and killing eight people on Saturday.
In the eastern Sumy region, Russian troops attempted a breakthrough in an area previously spared from intense ground offensives.
Kyiv said Russian forces forcibly moved 50 people from a local village.
Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga stated, “Russian invaders have stolen five dozen civilian people, mostly elderly women, from a tiny Ukrainian village Grabovske.”
Russia made no comment on the matter.
