President Donald Trump said there are “very good chances” for Ukraine and Russia to reach a peace agreement following the latest round of negotiations in Florida, but he insisted that corruption in Kyiv remains a major barrier to progress.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his return to the White House, Trump emphasized that while momentum exists, Ukraine’s internal issues are slowing the path toward any lasting deal.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Sunday’s talks between US and Ukrainian officials as productive, though he acknowledged that significant work remains before a peace framework can be finalized. Rubio met in Florida with a Ukrainian delegation led by Kyiv’s new chief negotiator Rustem Umerov, who replaced Andriy Yermak after his resignation amid a corruption scandal.
Present at the meeting were also Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, both increasingly visible in the administration’s diplomatic efforts.
Witkoff is set to travel to Moscow this week for further discussions. “There is still a lot of work to be done, but today was again a very productive and useful session where I believe additional progress was made,” he said, noting that both sides share a vision that peace negotiations must not only end the war but secure Ukraine’s long-term future.
Umerov also called the discussions productive, stressing that the United States is actively listening and supportive. However, a source cited by AFP said the meeting had been “far from easy,” underscoring the complexity and tension surrounding the negotiating process.
