Negotiations between the United States and Ukraine to end the Russia-Ukraine war have made some progress but remain far from finalised.
The talks, held in Florida, involved Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s new chief negotiator, along with U.S. officials including President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Witkoff is set to continue discussions in Moscow.
These talks followed the leak of a controversial 28-point peace plan criticised for favouring Russia by demanding Ukrainian territorial concessions and military restrictions, including a ban on joining NATO.
Umerov replaced Ukraine’s previous lead negotiator after a corruption scandal and stressed the focus was on Ukraine’s future security and prosperity.
“We are discussing about the future of Ukraine, about the security of Ukraine, about no repetition of aggression of Ukraine, about prosperity of Ukraine, about how to rebuild Ukraine,” Umerov stated. “US is hearing us. US is supporting us. US is working beside us.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the talks “productive and useful,” noting that the goal is a peace that leaves Ukraine “sovereign, independent and prosperous,” though more work remains.
The original 28-point plan has been trimmed to 19 points, removing some of the harsher demands on Ukraine, especially military limits. Still, Moscow’s acceptance is uncertain, with Russia insisting on control over seized Ukrainian territory and blocking NATO membership for Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the U.S. and Trump for their efforts and planned talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. The war, which escalated dramatically after Russia’s 2022 invasion, has caused vast civilian and military casualties and millions of refugees.
The peace initiative aims to balance ending the conflict with preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty, but its success depends on Russia’s willingness to compromise, which remains doubtful as negotiations continue.