U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has characterized discussions with Ukraine regarding a potential resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict as productive, while noting that “more work needs to be done.”
The talks, convened in Florida, saw the participation of a Ukrainian delegation headed by national security council secretary Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s newly appointed chief negotiator.
Also present at the meeting were Steve Witkoff, an envoy for President Donald Trump, and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Witkoff is scheduled to travel to Moscow next week for further discussions.
Umerov’s appointment follows the departure of Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian president’s former top negotiator, who resigned after an anti-corruption investigation at his residence.
Sunday’s meeting marks the latest development in a period of heightened diplomatic activity over the past two weeks.
This surge in activity was prompted by the leak of a 28-point U.S. peace plan, which drew criticism from Ukraine and its European allies for its perceived pro-Russia stance, nearly four years after Russia’s initial invasion.
“It’s not just about the terms that ends fighting,” Rubio stated at the meeting in Hallandale Beach, north of Miami.
“It’s about also the terms that set up Ukraine for long-term prosperity… I think we built on that today, but there’s more work to be done.”
He further conveyed to the Ukrainian delegation that the objective of peace negotiations with Russia is to ensure that Ukraine remains “sovereign, independent and prosperous.”
At the commencement of Sunday’s talks, Umerov declared: “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.”
“US is hearing us,” he said, speaking in English. “US is supporting us. US is working beside us.”
He subsequently described the talks as “productive and successful,” while Rubio concurred, stating they had been “very productive and useful.”
Trump previously indicated that he intends to dispatch Witkoff, and potentially Kushner, to Moscow this week to engage with President Vladimir Putin regarding the revised peace plan.
A key point of contention remains the status of Ukrainian territory that Russia has annexed or continues to control.
A source reportedly close to the Ukrainian delegation described the Florida talks as “not easy” to AFP news agency.
“But everyone is trying to be constructive and find a solution,” the source added.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, a key ally, in Paris on Monday.
The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of military casualties, as well as thousands of civilian deaths, and at least seven million people have been displaced as refugees since Russia’s invasion on February 24, 2022.
The roots of the conflict between the two former Soviet states can be traced back to 2014, when Ukraine’s pro-Russian president was ousted, prompting Russia to annex Crimea and support armed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
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