Washington and Kyiv signal progress on a security framework for postwar Ukraine, but warn that any deal hinges on Russia’s willingness to end the conflict.
US and Ukrainian officials have concluded a second day of “productive” talks in Florida, aiming to hammer out a roadmap to end the nearly four-year war. The White House confirmed that discussions between President Donald Trump’s special envoys and top Ukrainian negotiators made “progress” on a security framework, with a third day of meetings scheduled for Saturday.
The high-level talks are taking place at an undisclosed location in Miami, reportedly the Shell Bay Club in Hallandale Beach. The US delegation includes special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while Ukraine is represented by senior negotiator Rustem Umerov and military chief General Andriy Hnatov.
According to a joint statement released after Friday’s session, both sides agreed on the “framework of security arrangements” and discussed the necessary deterrence capabilities to sustain a lasting peace. The discussions also covered a “future prosperity agenda” focused on Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction and economic recovery.
The Florida meetings follow a visit by Witkoff and Kushner to Moscow earlier this week, where they met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. While the Kremlin described those talks as “truly friendly,” US officials have kept specific details of the peace proposal under wraps.
“Yesterday’s meeting between American and Ukrainian representatives in Miami was productive, and progress was made,” a White House official stated. “They will reconvene later today after briefing their respective leaders.”
However, the joint statement issued a stark caveat regarding Moscow’s role: “Both parties agreed that real progress toward any agreement depends on Russia’s readiness to show serious commitment to long-term peace, including steps toward de-escalation and cessation of killings.”
These diplomatic efforts come amidst a renewed push by the Trump administration to broker a ceasefire. A draft 28-point US peace plan was reportedly leaked recently, which critics argued was overly favourable to Russia, proposing territorial concessions and limits on Ukraine’s NATO ambitions. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has since noted that revised proposals “look better,” though he emphasized that the process is far from over.
The talks also occur against a backdrop of intense fighting on the ground, with Russia recently claiming the capture of the strategic logistics hub of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine a claim Kyiv disputes.
As the Florida talks extend into a third day, the focus remains on whether the US can bridge the gap between Ukraine’s demand for sovereignty and security guarantees and Russia’s maximalist conditions. Observers are watching closely to see if the “progress” cited by the White House can translate into a tangible agreement that Putin is willing to accept.
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