Decision on Ukraine Peace Progress Hinges on Russia as US, Ukraine Hold Third Day of Talks

Ukrainian and United States officials are holding a third consecutive day of talks in Miami on Saturday, with Washington saying both sides agreed that any real progress would depend on Russia’s willingness to end the war.

President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner have been meeting Ukraine’s chief negotiator Rustem Umerov and Andrii Hnatov, chief of staff of Kyiv’s armed forces.

The discussions follow talks earlier this week in which Witkoff and Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Tuesday to discuss a US-backed plan to end the conflict. Moscow, however, rejected parts of the proposal.

In a statement posted on X on Friday, Witkoff said both sides 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 US and Ukrainian delegations also agreed on a framework for security arrangements and discussed deterrence capabilities needed to sustain lasting peace.

Washington’s proposal reportedly involves Ukraine giving up territory that Russia has failed to win on the battlefield, in exchange for security assurances that fall short of Kyiv’s long-standing ambition to join NATO.

The specifics of the security guarantees remain unclear, aside from an initial plan that would see fighter jets stationed in Poland to help defend Kyiv.

The US plan has undergone several revisions since emerging late last month, amid early criticism that it was overly accommodating to Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Despite hopes of persuading Moscow, Witkoff and Kushner left Russia without a deal. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov later described the meeting as cordial and said Kushner’s involvement had been useful.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said the diplomatic process was largely taking place behind the scenes, adding that Ukraine was ready for talks while the United States sought a pragmatic and swift end to the war.

Khaborwala/SS