High-level discussions between the United States and Ukraine are set to continue for a third consecutive day this Saturday in Miami. The talks, which began earlier this week, are centered on finding a path to end the ongoing war, with Washington stating that any meaningful advancement is contingent on Russia's actions.
Key Figures and Stalled Moscow Trip
The American delegation is led by President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and includes his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. They are meeting with Ukraine's top negotiator, Rustem Umerov, and the chief of staff for Kyiv's armed forces, Andrii Hnatov.
This round of talks follows a crucial but unsuccessful meeting in Moscow. On Tuesday, Witkoff and Kushner sat down with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin to present a US-crafted plan to stop the conflict. However, Moscow rejected certain parts of the proposal, leaving the diplomats to return without a deal.
The Core Agreement and US Plan
In a statement posted on social media platform X on Friday, Steve Witkoff outlined the current consensus from the Miami discussions. "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," the readout stated.
The officials also reportedly agreed on a framework for future security arrangements and discussed the military capabilities needed to deter future aggression and sustain peace.
The controversial US plan, which has undergone several revisions since late last month, reportedly involves Ukraine ceding territory not currently held by Russian forces on the battlefield. In exchange, Kyiv would receive security guarantees, though these fall short of its ultimate goal of NATO membership. The specifics of these guarantees remain unclear, with an initial suggestion being that fighter jets to defend Ukraine could be based in neighbouring Poland.
Reactions from Moscow and Kyiv
Despite the lack of a breakthrough in Moscow, the atmosphere of the talks was described as positive by the Kremlin. Aide Yuri Ushakov, who attended the five-hour late-night meeting, called it cordial. He praised Kushner's involvement, stating on Russian state TV that "he has turned out to be very useful." Ushakov also claimed that Putin and Witkoff "had a genuinely friendly conversation and they understand each other perfectly."
From the Ukrainian side, advisor Mykhailo Podolyak emphasized the behind-the-scenes nature of the diplomatic process. He confirmed on social media that "Ukraine seeks to end the war and is ready for talks," while noting the US desire for a pragmatic process requiring compromises from both sides.
President Trump commented on Wednesday, saying his envoys had a "reasonably good meeting" with Putin and left with the "strong impression" that the Russian leader wants to end the war. Trump's approach to the conflict has fluctuated since he returned to office in January, mixing criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with recent sanctions on Russian oil firms after other diplomatic efforts failed.
For his part, President Putin, who was in India meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week, acknowledged the talks were "complex" but expressed a willingness to engage with the US plan rather than obstruct it. The world now watches as the Miami talks enter a critical phase, with the hope for peace resting heavily on Moscow's next move.
