US and Ukrainian officials are holding talks in Miami for the third consecutive day, emphasizing that real progress toward a peace agreement depends on Russia’s willingness to end the war in Ukraine.
In a joint statement, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Ukrainian National Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov stressed that de-escalation and an end to civilian deaths are key:
“Both sides agreed that real progress depends on Moscow’s serious commitment to long-term peace, including steps toward de-escalation and stopping the killing.”
Also participating in the negotiations are US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Andriy Hnatov. The Ukrainian team was briefed on earlier talks in Moscow between Witkoff, Kushner, and President Vladimir Putin on December 2.
Although the meeting with Putin lasted nearly five hours, Russian officials reported that no compromise was reached, and Putin later took a defiant stance in an interview in India:
“Ukrainian forces must fully withdraw from Donbas this week, or Russia will ‘liberate these territories by force.'”
The talks follow the leak of a 28-point US peace plan in November. The original proposal reportedly favored Russia, but subsequent revisions sought to address key Ukrainian concerns. The latest version has not yet been made public.
Key points of contention remain security guarantees for Ukraine and territorial concessions, while Russia currently controls about one-fifth of Ukraine, including major areas of Donetsk and Luhansk.
The situation remains tense, with the international community closely watching whether Moscow will show genuine willingness to compromise or continue aggressive actions that further destabilize the region.
