Ukrainian and U.S. Delegations concluded a day of talks in Miami, Florida, on Thursday, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stating that discussions will continue Friday as Kyiv seeks security guarantees and a pathway to end Russia’s ongoing war. The Ukrainian delegation, led by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov, Head of the President’s Office Kyrylo Budanov, First Deputy Head of the President’s Office Serhiy Kyslytsya, and the head of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, David Arakhamia, met with White House special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
Zelenskyy, in his evening video address, emphasized the importance of continued diplomacy. “It is important for all of us in the world that diplomacy continues and that we are working to end this war – Russia’s war against Ukraine,” he said. “No one wants this war.” He indicated that the primary focus of Friday’s discussions will be assessing Russia’s willingness to pursue a genuine resolution to the conflict.
The meetings come as Ukraine seeks to secure firm security guarantees from the United States and European allies, particularly in light of previous obstacles to its bid to join NATO. Zelenskyy has previously indicated a willingness to consider abandoning Ukraine’s NATO aspirations in exchange for such guarantees, a position he reiterated as a potential compromise. According to a report from CBS News, Zelenskyy voiced this readiness in talks with Witkoff and Kushner on Sunday.
While details of the specific proposals discussed in Miami remain limited, Zelenskyy acknowledged that “work to be done on sensitive issues.” He expressed optimism, however, stating that the Ukrainian and American teams “understand how to put all of this in place.” Earlier this week, Zelenskyy detailed a 20-point peace plan agreed upon with U.S. Envoys in Florida, though the Kremlin has stated it is analyzing the proposals brought back from the U.S. By a Russian envoy.
The U.S. Has reportedly explored proposals involving Ukrainian concessions in the Donetsk region, including the creation of a demilitarized free economic zone, an idea Zelenskyy has publicly rejected as unworkable. He questioned the governance of such a zone and emphasized the need for a purely police presence rather than a military one.
The timing of these talks similarly coincides with heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, a factor Zelenskyy noted in his address. He stated that the Ukrainian team would provide a detailed report on the discussions and Russia’s potential for a genuine peace effort. The Ukrainian delegation will continue discussions with representatives of the United States tomorrow, which is important for everyone, as diplomacy is ongoing.
