Ukraine and US plan third day meeting, acknowledge 'real progress' hinges on Russia

Ukrainian and US officials are set to meet for a third consecutive day of discussions in Miami on Saturday. Both sides have agreed that any meaningful progress in resolving the conflict hinges on Russia's willingness to end the war.

Special envoy of President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, alongside Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, have been in talks with top Ukrainian negotiators, Rustem Umerov and Andrii Hnatov, the Chief of Staff of Ukraines armed forces. These talks follow a meeting between Witkoff, Kushner, and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday at the Kremlin, where they discussed a US proposal aimed at ending the conflict. However, Moscow rejected several key elements of the proposal.

In a statement posted on X by Witkoff on Friday, it was revealed that both parties acknowledged that significant progress would depend on Russia's commitment to peace, which would include steps toward de-escalation and halting the violence. The US and Ukrainian representatives also discussed the framework for security arrangements and deterrence measures necessary to sustain long-term peace.

The US plan envisions Ukraine relinquishing territories that Russia has been unable to capture in exchange for security guarantees, which fall short of Kyiv's hopes of joining NATO. While details about the security guarantees remain unclear, the initial proposal suggests that fighter jets for Ukraines defense could be stationed in Poland.

Since its inception last month, the US plan has undergone several revisions. Initially criticized for being too lenient on Russia, the plan continues to evolve as negotiations progress. Witkoff and Kushner had hoped to sway Putin into agreeing to the plan, but they returned from Moscow without securing any concrete deal.

Despite the lack of a formal agreement, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov noted that the five-hour meeting with Putin was conducted in a cordial atmosphere. He praised Kushner for his role in the ongoing talks, which have been underway since the spring. Ushakov stated that Putin and Witkoff had a "genuinely friendly conversation" and that they have a mutual understanding. "A new person has joined us, and I would say that he has turned out to be very useful," he added, referring to Kushners involvement.

On the Ukrainian side, Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky, posted on social media on Friday that "the diplomatic process mostly takes place behind closed doors." Podolyak confirmed that Ukraine is eager to end the war and is open to negotiations. He added that the United States is pursuing a pragmatic approach and hopes for a swift resolution, though both sides must be prepared for compromises.

In a statement on Wednesday, Trump claimed that the meeting with Putin was "reasonably good," adding that the envoys were left with a strong impression that Putin desires to bring the war to an end.

Since returning to office in January, Trumps stance on Ukraine has fluctuated. While he initially showed warmth toward Putin and criticized Zelensky for not fully appreciating US support, his frustration has grown as his diplomatic attempts to end the war, including a summit in Alaska, yielded little success. Recently, Trump imposed sanctions on Russian oil companies in response to the ongoing conflict.

Meanwhile, Putin, who met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week, described the talks with Trumps envoys as "complex" but indicated a willingness to engage with the proposed US plan rather than block it.

Author: Aiden Foster