The United States and Ukraine resumed talks to end the Ukraine war after a week, seeking the potential for concrete progress ahead. Marco Rubio, the U.S. Minister leading the U.S. delegation, called the talks "productive" but noted there was "still much work to do," striking a cautious tone.
He said the meeting was not just about ending the war, but was "a process to ensure Ukraine's future, which we hope will be more prosperous than ever before." Minister Rubio emphasized that the core of the talks was to ensure that Ukraine, as a sovereign independent state, never experiences war again and to find solutions for the people's prosperity.
Rustem Umerov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, who led the Ukrainian negotiating team, also said, "The talks were productive and successful." He said, "We discussed all the key issues important to Ukraine's future and to the people of Ukraine," adding, "Our goal is a prosperous and strong Ukraine." He also said, "We thank the American people and leaders."
Right after the talks, Secretary Umerov said on his X account (formerly Twitter), "We are in constant contact with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and have clear guidance and priorities based on the progress made in Geneva." He added, "We are working to secure true peace for Ukraine and reliable, long-term security guarantees."
The talks were held on the 30th (local time) in Hallandale Beach, Florida. On the U.S. side, Minister Rubio was joined by Steve Witkoff, special envoy for President Donald Trump, and Trump's eldest son-in-law, Jared Kushner, while the Ukrainian delegation was led by Secretary Umerov.
The meeting was a follow-up to the U.S.-Ukraine talks held on the 23rd in Geneva, Switzerland, where the United States presented Ukraine with a cease-fire framework drawn up through unofficial contacts with Russia. This round was reported to have involved more concrete and practical revisions and supplements centered on that framework.
In particular, the United States and Ukraine were said to have streamlined the previous 28-clause end-of-war plan, criticized as overly favorable to Russia at the Geneva meeting, into 19 clauses reflecting Ukraine's position. The meeting drew attention because it took place just before Envoy Witkoff visits Moscow next week to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Attention is focused on whether an end-of-war plan that more clearly reflects Ukraine's interests has been produced and what variables will emerge in upcoming talks with President Putin.