Umerov Says Ukraine-U.S. Peace Talks "Productive"

(MENAFN) Three days of intensive diplomatic discussions between Ukrainian and American officials in Florida concluded Sunday with Ukraine's chief negotiator declaring the sessions "productive and constructive," signaling potential momentum toward ending the devastating conflict.

Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's lead peace envoy, announced via Facebook that the negotiations centered on advancing a comprehensive 20-point peace framework while synchronizing positions on multilateral security arrangements and U.S. guarantee structures for Ukrainian protection.

"Ukraine remains fully committed to achieving a just and sustainable peace," Umerov stated. "Our shared priority is to stop the killing, ensure guaranteed security, and create conditions for Ukraine's recovery, stability, and long-term prosperity."

The discussions also addressed critical implementation timelines and the sequencing of subsequent diplomatic steps, Umerov revealed.

"Peace must be not only a cessation of hostilities, but also a dignified foundation for a stable future," he emphasized, pledging continued "close coordination" with Washington and European capitals throughout upcoming negotiation phases.

Economic recovery formed a key pillar of the talks, with delegations developing what Umerov described as an "economic and prosperity plan" designed to rebuild Ukraine's war-shattered infrastructure and economy.

Senior European national security advisors participated in the Florida meetings to ensure strategic alignment across Ukrainian, American, and European positions—a trilateral coordination effort aimed at presenting unified Western backing for any eventual peace settlement.

U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff corroborated Umerov's assessment on X, confirming that "a series of productive and constructive meetings" transpired across the three-day period.

Ukraine dispatched a high-level delegation including Umerov, who simultaneously serves as secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, alongside Andriy Hnatov, chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The American contingent featured Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and White House staff member Josh Gruenbaum.

In a parallel diplomatic track, Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev conducted separate discussions with U.S. officials in Miami, Florida over the weekend. "The discussions are proceeding constructively," Dmitriev informed reporters Saturday.

During his annual year-end press conference in Moscow Friday, Putin expressed Russia's willingness to resolve the Ukraine crisis through negotiations while insisting on addressing underlying causes. He declared that "the ball is entirely in the court of Ukraine and its European sponsors," effectively placing responsibility for next steps on Kyiv and its Western allies.

The simultaneous diplomatic engagements suggest accelerating efforts to explore pathways toward de-escalation, though fundamental disagreements over territorial control, security guarantees, and Ukraine's geopolitical orientation remain formidable obstacles to any comprehensive settlement.

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