Vance claims a 'breakthrough' in US–Russia talks on Ukraine

Vance said that American negotiators provided him with updated information on the dialogue with the Russian side.

"I actually got an update from our negotiators this morning. So the breakthrough that I do feel that we've made is that all of the issues are actually out in the open," he said.

Vance added that the central sticking point in the talks remains territorial issues, particularly concerning the Donetsk region.

"I think the Russians really want territorial control of the Donetsk. The Ukrainians understandably see that as a major security problem, [even as] they privately acknowledge that eventually, they’ll probably lose Donetsk — but, you know, eventually: it could be 12 months from now, it could be longer than that. So that territorial concession is a significant hold-up in the negotiations — that terrible territorial concession, I should say," the US Vice President said.

He also noted that other topics are being discussed, including control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

"Who controls the [Zaporizhzhia] nuclear facility? Can it be jointly controlled? Does it need to be controlled by one or more sides?" Vance asked.

Additionally, the talks touch on humanitarian issues, the status of ethnic Russians and Ukrainians who remain in occupied territories or in Russia, as well as questions of reconstruction.

"I think that we’ve made progress, but sitting here today, I wouldn't stay with confidence that we’re going to get to a peaceful resolution. I think there’s a good chance we will, I think there's a good chance we won't," he said.

For context, Ukraine and the United States held a series of substantive meetings in Miami from December 19–21, focusing on four key documents that will form parts of a future peace agreement.