Top U.S. officials tied to Trump — Marco Rubio (Secretary of State), Steve Witkoff (special envoy), and Jared Kushner (Trump’s son-in-law) — met this weekend in Florida with a delegation from Ukraine. The goal: to work on a new framework for ending the war with Russia.
On the Ukrainian side: the delegation includes the head of Ukraine’s security council, Rustem Umerov (who stepped in following the recent resignation of top aide Andrii Yermak, amid a corruption scandal), along with senior military and foreign-affairs figures.
The meeting comes after a prior round of talks in Geneva, and it aims to rework a previously proposed 28-point plan into something more acceptable to Ukraine. That plan, originally drafted with heavy Russian-favorable terms, would have required Ukraine to give up territory in its eastern regions, limit its military, forgo NATO accession, and hold elections in 100 days.
According to Rubio, the objective isn’t just to halt fighting — but to secure “a peace that leaves Ukraine sovereign and independent, with a chance at real prosperity.”
Despite this diplomatic push, violence continues: recent Russian missile and drone strikes targeted areas surrounding Kyiv; meanwhile Ukraine carried out retaliatory strikes on Russian targets. The fighting underscores how fragile any peace deal may be.
Looking ahead: The U.S. side plans to send Witkoff — and possibly Kushner — to Moscow this week to meet with Russian leadership, hoping to present the revised proposal and negotiate toward a
⚠️ Why this matter is serious
Pressure-packed moment for Ukraine. The timing is sensitive: their previous top negotiator resigned amid scandal, putting political stability at risk. This could affect how Ukraine bargains — perhaps with more urgency or fewer concessions.
A shifting U.S. approach. The revised plan reflects an attempt to balance Russia’s demands with Ukraine’s core needs — though its early version was deeply unpopular in Kyiv for asking too much. The new framing suggests U.S. pressure is real.
The war hasn’t stopped. Meetings and agreements aside — missiles and drone strikes continue. That means any peace effort will need stronger enforcement, and trust between parties remains fragile.
Global ripple effects. If the talks succeed, the balance of power in Europe could shift. If they fail, the war could drag further — prolonging humanitarian crisis for millions.