Senior figures from The Trump administration convened with Ukrainian representatives in Florida on Sunday, aiming to facilitate a resolution to Russia's conflict in Ukraine and preparing for significant discussions scheduled for this week in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
TL;DR
- Trump administration officials met with Ukrainian representatives in Florida to discuss a peace plan for the conflict.
- The discussions aim to prepare for upcoming talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
- A 28-point plan proposed by Trump, which faced criticism for favoring Russia, is being modified.
- Despite diplomatic efforts, Russia continues aerial assaults on Ukraine, causing civilian casualties.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law, engaged in discussions with a Ukrainian contingent to further refine the specifics of a suggested peace plan. These discussions occur during a critical period for Ukraine as it persists in resisting the Russian forces that initiated an invasion in 2022.
“The end goal, obviously, is not just the end of the war,” Rubio said at the start of the meeting. “But it’s also about securing an end to the war that leaves Ukraine sovereign and independent and with an opportunity at real prosperity.”
“This is not just about peace deals,” the top American diplomat said as the teams sat down at the Shell Bay Club, a golf and racket club developed by Witkoff in Hallandale Beach.
Rustem Umerov, who leads Ukraine’s security council, conveyed his nation's gratitude for American endeavors in response to Rubio.
“U.S. Is hearing us,” Umerov said. “U.S. Is supporting us. U.S. Is working beside us.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared on Friday the departure of his influential head of office, Andrii Yermak, who had served as the nation's primary negotiator in talks with the U.S until that moment.
The statement followed a search of Yermak's residence by anti-corruption investigators. Zelenskyy's administration has been shaken by repercussions from funds scandal over $100 million misappropriated from the energy industry via kickbacks from contractors, leading to fresh internal challenges for Zelenskyy.
Just seven days prior, Rubio had a meeting with Yermak in Geneva, and both parties indicated that the discussions were constructive in formulating an updated peace proposal.
The Ukrainian delegation also included Andrii Hnatov, who leads Ukraine’s military, and presidential advisor Oleksandr Bevz.
Envoys have concentrated on alterations to the 28-point plan put forth by Trump, which emerged from discussions between Washington and Moscow. This proposal faced disapproval for allegedly favoring Russian requirements too heavily. Initially, it had suggested Ukraine relinquishing the whole eastern region of the Donbas to Russia, a contentious issue for Kyiv.
The proposal, which Trump has since minimized as a “concept” or a “map” to be “fine-tuned,”, would have stipulated restrictions on Ukraine's armed forces, prevented the nation from becoming a NATO member, and mandated that Ukraine conduct elections within 100 days. Representatives have suggested the structure has been modified, though the extent of its terms' adjustments remains uncertain.
On Tuesday, Trump stated his intention to dispatch Witkoff and possibly Kushner to Moscow this week for discussions with Putin regarding the proposal. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, in remarks released Sunday on Russian state television, indicated that Putin would meet with Witkoff prior to Thursday, the day Putin is scheduled to leave for India.
Similar to Trump, both Witkoff and Kushner originate from the real estate sector, a field where closing deals takes precedence over diplomatic norms. This duo was also instrumental in a 20-point proposal that resulted in a cessation of hostilities in Gaza.
Zelenskyy wrote on X that the Ukrainian delegation would “swiftly and substantively work out the steps needed to end the war.”
On Saturday evening, Zelenskyy stated in his daily address that the American representatives were “demonstrating a constructive approach.”
“In the coming days it is feasible to flesh out the steps to determine how to bring the war to a dignified end,” he said.
Attacks continue despite diplomatic efforts to end the war
Russian aerial assaults, involving drones and missiles, targeted Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, and its surrounding areas on Saturday, resulting in a minimum of three fatalities and numerous injuries, according to authorities. Further strikes during the night leading into Sunday claimed one life and injured nineteen individuals, among them four youngsters, as reported by local authorities, after a drone impacted a nine-story residential building in Vyshhorod, a city within the Kyiv region.
On Telegram on Sunday, Zelenskyy stated that Russia had launched an assault on Ukraine using 122 attack drones and ballistic missiles.
“Such attacks occur daily. This week alone, Russians have used nearly 1,400 strike drones, 1,100 guided aerial bombs and 66 missiles against our people. That is why we must strengthen Ukraine’s resilience every day. Missiles and air defense systems are necessary, and we must also actively work with our partners for peace,” Zelenskyy said.
“We need real, reliable solutions that will help end the war,” he added.
Following Ukraine's assertion of responsibility for an attack on a significant oil facility on Saturday near Russia's Novorossiysk port, which is operated by The Caspian Pipeline Consortium, Kazakhstan urged Ukraine on Sunday to cease assaults on the Black Sea terminal. The CPC conduit, originating in Kazakhstan and terminating at the Novorossisyk facility, manages a substantial volume of Kazakhstan's petroleum exports.
“We view what has occurred as an action harming the bilateral relations of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Ukraine, and we expect the Ukrainian side to take effective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future,” Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.