On Saturday, December 20, U.S. negotiators met with Russian officials in Miami, Florida, for the latest round of talks aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine. Hosted under the Trump administration’s special envoys, the meeting brings new momentum to a war that began in February 2022 and has entered its fourth year.
The talks followed a series of discussions on Friday with Ukrainian and European representatives, where security guarantees for Kyiv were front of mind. Russia’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, described the sessions as “constructive” and confirmed they would resume on Sunday, December 21.
In a joint statement, Dmitriev praised the progress, saying, “The discussions are proceeding constructively. They began earlier and will continue today, and will also continue tomorrow.” U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, former President Trump’s son-in-law, led the American delegation, with senior national security adviser Marco Rubio potentially joining the talks.
Meanwhile, in Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced cautious optimism about a proposed trilateral meeting among national security advisers from the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia. Zelenskyy highlighted past successes from talks in TĂĽrkiye, including the exchange of captured soldiers and civilians, and said Ukraine would welcome any agreements that deliver tangible returns.
Despite this positive tone, key issues remain unresolved. Territorial disputes over four regions claimed by Moscow, control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and financial support for Ukraine’s reconstruction are among the most challenging sticking points. Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated on December 19 that Moscow’s core demands have not changed since June 2024—namely, that Ukraine abandon its NATO ambitions and withdraw from the occupied territories.
Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, confirmed that U.S. and European teams agreed on “further steps” and will continue joint efforts in the coming days. As the talks move into their next phase, all eyes will be on whether these diplomatic rounds can translate into concrete progress on the ground.
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U.S., Russian officials meet in Florida for further Ukraine talks
cgtn.com
