HALLANDALE BEACH (Realist English). US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations with a Ukrainian delegation on a potential deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war were “productive,” while stressing that “more work needs to be done” before any agreement can take shape.
The talks, held Sunday in Florida, brought together Ukraine’s new chief negotiator and national security council secretary Rustem Umerov, President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow next week for further discussions.
Umerov was appointed to lead Kyiv’s negotiating team after the resignation of Andriy Yermak, who stepped down following an anti-corruption raid at his home. Sunday’s meeting marked the latest round in two weeks of intense diplomacy, triggered by the leak of a 28-point US peace proposal that alarmed Kyiv and several European governments for appearing overly accommodating to Moscow.
Rubio told delegates the US objective is not only to halt the fighting but also to establish conditions for Ukraine’s “long-term prosperity.” “I think we built on that today,” he said. “But there’s more work to be done.”
Opening the discussions, Umerov said the focus was “the future of Ukraine, the security of Ukraine, the non-repetition of aggression, and how to rebuild Ukraine.” He later described the talks as “productive and successful,” while Rubio called them “very productive and useful.”
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said negotiations were “going along well,” and he believed there was a “good chance” of reaching a deal. He confirmed he would soon send Witkoff — and possibly Kushner — to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss an extensively revised US peace plan.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote in a social media post that it was “important the talks have a constructive dynamic” and remain focused on protecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and national interests. He thanked the US and Trump for their efforts.
One of the most contentious unresolved issues involves the status of Ukrainian territories annexed or occupied by Russia. A source familiar with the Ukrainian delegation told AFP the Florida discussions were “not easy,” but participants were “trying to be constructive and find a solution.”
Zelensky is scheduled to meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday as part of continued consultations with key allies.
The war, now nearing its fourth year, has resulted in tens of thousands of military casualties on both sides, thousands of civilian deaths, and at least seven million refugees. The conflict traces back to 2014, when Ukraine’s pro-Russian president was ousted and Russia responded by annexing Crimea and backing separatist forces in the east.
