US and Russian negotiators meet in Florida for Ukraine peace talks
American negotiators and Russian officials met in Florida on Saturday, December 20, to discuss a potential end to the war in Ukraine, a conflict that has reshaped global geopolitics since February 2022.
Several diplomatic sources cited by Reuters confirmed the high-stakes encounter.
By Sunday, the Kremlin struck a cautious tone. Moscow stated that the prospects for a lasting peace have not improved, following modifications made by Europe and Ukraine to initial proposals drafted by the United States.
The Florida meeting followed a crucial Friday summit between Ukrainian leaders and their European counterparts. That session focused on intensifying support for Kyiv while searching for a political off-ramp to end the hostilities.
Kirill Dmitriev, a special envoy for Russian President Vladimir Putin, described the discussions as "constructive." Dmitriev met with Steve Witkoff, an envoy for Donald Trump, and Jared Kushner. The Russian official noted that negotiations started early in the day and are set to continue through Monday.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated he is considering joining the talks, though he remained tight-lipped regarding the specific agenda or timeline.
Simultaneously, European Union leaders reached a landmark agreement on Friday night. The EU will tap financial markets to provide Ukraine with a 90 billion euro loan, specifically earmarked to fund the war effort over the next two years.
In Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed support for the American proposal to hold tripartite talks between Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia. Zelenskyy noted that such a format could accelerate prisoner swaps and pave the way for a direct meeting between the leaders of Kyiv and Moscow.
However, Yuri Ushakov, the Russian president's top foreign policy advisor, told reporters that the adjustments sought by Europe and Ukraine do not bridge the gap toward a long-term agreement.
"This is not a forecast," Ushakov stated. "I am certain that the proposals being made do not improve the document or increase the likelihood of reaching a durable peace."
While European and Ukrainian negotiators have spent recent days refining the U.S. framework for ending the conflict, the exact details of these changes remain confidential, leaving the ultimate impact on the Florida negotiations uncertain.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
