US and Ukrainian officials met in Florida on Sunday to explore the framework of a potential peace deal with Russia, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing cautious optimism that the talks could move the long-running war closer to resolution.
Rubio said the discussions were aimed at shaping “a pathway forward that leaves Ukraine sovereign, independent and prosperous,” adding that he expected “even more progress today” as negotiators reconvened in Hallandale Beach.
The meeting marked the latest round in nearly two weeks of diplomatic efforts that began with a US-drafted peace proposal. That initial blueprint drew criticism from some analysts who argued it leaned too heavily toward Moscow’s interests, despite Russia having launched the conflict with its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly vowed to end the war swiftly, has shown growing frustration with the slow pace of negotiations. Although he claimed during his campaign that he could resolve the conflict “in one day,” Trump has since said he is surprised by the difficulty, despite his belief in a strong personal connection with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow, however, has resisted making concessions that would meaningfully halt the fighting.
US officials have continued to press Ukraine to consider compromises, including ceding territory to Russia—an idea strongly opposed in Kyiv. Sunday’s talks took a new turn with a change in Ukraine’s leadership at the negotiating table. National Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov assumed the role of chief negotiator after the resignation of Andriy Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, who stepped down on Friday amid a corruption scandal triggered by an investigation into major graft in Ukraine’s energy sector.
At the start of the meeting, Umerov thanked the United States for its continued involvement. “US is hearing us, US is supporting us, US is walking beside us,” he said in English.
Representing Washington were special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, both of whom have played active roles in the process. Witkoff is expected to meet Russian officials later in the week. The talks were held at Shell Bay, a private club near Miami developed by Witkoff’s real estate company.
The session followed earlier negotiations in Geneva, where Ukrainian officials presented a counter-proposal to the peace plan delivered by US Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll during his consultations in Kyiv two weeks prior. Zelenskiy said he anticipated the outcomes of the Geneva discussions would be “hammered out” during Sunday’s meeting in Florida.
While Ukraine faces intensifying pressure both on the battlefield and at home, officials in Kyiv remain wary of any arrangement that leans toward Moscow’s preferred terms. Russian forces continue to make incremental gains across the front lines, deepening concerns in Ukraine’s political leadership as they juggle both the war effort and a domestic crisis fueled by corruption allegations.
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