In a significant diplomatic push, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former President Donald Trump, convened with Ukrainian negotiators in Florida over the weekend. Their objective was to build upon the recent peace discussions held in Geneva and to iron out the remaining intricacies of last week’s agreement.
Opening the dialogue, Rubio emphasized the overarching aim of the talks. “Ending the conflict is obviously crucial. We want to see an end to the killing, the death, and the suffering, which I know the Ukrainian side desires as well,” he stated. He underscored the importance of ensuring Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence, alongside paving the way for genuine prosperity in the region.
Rustem Umerov, who leads the Ukrainian delegation and serves as the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, expressed gratitude to the American delegates and acknowledged Trump’s efforts in facilitating peace. He anticipated a constructive and beneficial meeting.
This gathering in Florida follows the resignation of Andriy Yermak, Ukraine’s chief negotiator, who stepped down after anti-corruption authorities searched his home. Ukraine is currently grappling with a corruption scandal involving a purported $100 million kickback scheme tied to the state-owned nuclear enterprise, Energoatom.
The diplomatic exchanges are set against a backdrop of ongoing efforts to bring the conflict to a close. “The discussions rooted in the Geneva framework will proceed. Diplomacy is very much alive,” remarked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He noted the U.S. delegation’s constructive stance, expressing hope that the coming days would yield concrete measures to conclude the war with dignity. Zelenskyy affirmed that the Ukrainian team is well-equipped with directives to prioritize the nation’s interests.
“The dialogue based on the Geneva points will continue. Diplomacy remains active. The American side is demonstrating a constructive approach, and in the coming days it is feasible to flesh out the steps to determine how to bring the war to a dignified end,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. “The Ukrainian delegation has the necessary directives, and I expect the guys to work in accordance with clear Ukrainian priorities.”
Zelenskyy wrote on X that Umerov would lead efforts to outline the steps to end the war and to hammer out the remaining elements of the peace framework.A U.S. official told Fox News Tuesday that Kyiv agreed to a peace deal, with only minor points still to be resolved.
Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk submitted their resignations on Nov. 12, 2025. (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images; Andrii Nesterenko/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow this week to discuss the updated peace framework that reportedly stands at 19 points instead of the original 28, which was criticized by European leaders as too favorable to the Kremlin.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested Moscow could reject the White House’s latest Ukraine peace deal framework if it does not uphold the “spirit and letter” of the understandings reached at the August Alaska summit between Trump and Vladimir Putin.
He warned that if the terms of the “key understandings” are “extinguished” then the situation would become “fundamentally different.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov listens to North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui during their talks in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Oct. 19, 2023. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service telegram channel via AP)
Russia has maintained its maximalist demands in negotiations, insisting Ukraine be barred from joining NATO and required to give up the rest of the Donbas region as part of any agreement.
The Kremlin has kept up its drone and missile barrages even as negotiations continue to move forward. Zelenskyy said Sunday that over the past week alone, Russia fired nearly 1,400 attack drones, 1,100 guided aerial bombs and 66 missiles at Ukraine.
