Ask Onix
Diplomatic talks yield 'productive' discussions but no major advances
Envoys from the United States and Ukraine described three days of negotiations in Miami as "productive and constructive," though no significant breakthrough has emerged in efforts to end the nearly four-year war with Russia, officials said on Monday.
Focus on security frameworks and economic recovery
Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Ukraine's chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, issued a joint statement outlining key discussion points. These included aligning positions on a 20-point plan, a multilateral security guarantee framework, a U.S. security assurance proposal for Ukraine, and an economic and prosperity plan aimed at post-war recovery.
The talks followed separate discussions between U.S. officials and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, also held in Miami. Witkoff confirmed that Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, participated in the meetings with Dmitriev, which he similarly described as "productive and constructive."
"Our shared priority is to stop the killing, ensure guaranteed security, and create conditions for Ukraine's recovery, stability, and long-term prosperity," Witkoff and Umerov said in their statement.
Joint statement by U.S. and Ukrainian envoys
Diplomatic flurry follows leaked U.S. peace plan controversy
The Miami meetings are the latest in a series of diplomatic engagements triggered by the leak of a 28-point U.S. peace proposal. The document reportedly favored Russian positions, alarming Ukraine and its European allies. The plan's disclosure has intensified efforts to realign strategies and clarify terms for ending the conflict.
Despite the optimistic tone from negotiators, core disputes remain unresolved. Russia continues to insist on retaining control of territories it has seized in Ukraine, a demand Kyiv and its Western allies reject. U.S. intelligence assessments, cited by Reuters, suggest Russian President Vladimir Putin's ambitions extend further, aiming to capture all of Ukraine and reclaim former Soviet territories in Europe.
Putin signals conditional peace in BBC interview
In a separate development, Putin told the BBC's Steve Rosenberg that Russia would refrain from further military operations if its interests were respected. "There won't be any operations if you treat us with respect, if you respect our interests just as we've always tried to respect yours," he said. The remarks followed the Kremlin's claim that Ukrainian drones struck two vessels and two piers in Russia's Krasnodar region on Monday, causing a fire but no reported casualties.
Uncertainty looms as talks continue
While both sides emphasize progress, the lack of a concrete agreement underscores the challenges ahead. Analysts note that Russia's insistence on territorial concessions and security guarantees remains a major obstacle, complicating efforts to reach a durable peace settlement.
