US and Russia to continue talks in Miami today, Reuters reports
Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (GettyImages)
The second round of direct talks between US representatives and the Russian delegation on resolving the war in Ukraine is underway in Miami, according to Reuters.
According to Reuters, the meetings began on Saturday with the participation of US special envoy Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Russian representative Kirill Dmitriev.
The negotiations in Florida follow Friday’s consultations between the US side and representatives of Ukraine and the European Union.
After the conclusion of Saturday’s session, Dmitriev told journalists that the meeting with Witkoff and Kushner was "constructive," adding that discussions will continue on Sunday.
It was also noted that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio may join the consultations in Miami.
Earlier in the week, representatives of the US, Ukraine, and the EU reported significant progress on security guarantees for Kyiv, which could be included in a future peace agreement. At the same time, they emphasized that the viability of such a plan depends on the Kremlin’s willingness to accept the presence of a foreign security component in Ukraine.
Trump's peace plan
Ukraine, together with the US and European partners, has been refining the American peace plan, first presented in November, for nearly a month. From the outset, the document contained provisions favorable to Russia, so the sides have been holding regular consultations to adapt it to Kyiv's position.
Specifically, on December 19, another round of talks took place in Miami with the participation of NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov and representatives from the US and Europe. Following the meeting, he reported that further steps had been agreed upon and that work would continue in the near future.
Ahead of the visit, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the talks are expected to cover the 20-point US peace plan, security guarantees for Ukraine, and an agreement on postwar reconstruction of the country.
Additionally, media reported that on Saturday, December 20, Kirill Dmitriev arrived in Miami to conduct negotiations with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Zelenskyy also stated ahead of the visit that the United States had proposed holding a trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the US, and Russia at the level of national security advisors, noting that Kyiv supports this initiative.
However, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov said that the proposed idea of a trilateral meeting between Ukraine, Russia, and the US at the level of national security advisors is not serious.
