American and Ukrainian officials to meet again on Saturday to discuss peace plan

U.S. and Ukrainian representatives will convene again on Saturday for a continued discussion on the peace proposal, following progress made on establishing a postwar security framework for Ukraine. Officials announced Friday that a third round of talks would take place after a productive second day in Florida, where efforts focused on bringing Russia closer to committing to peace. A joint statement was issued, outlining broad advancements made in the discussions as President Trump pushes for a U.S.-mediated agreement to end nearly four years of conflict.

"Both parties agreed that meaningful progress toward any agreement hinges on Russia's willingness to demonstrate a serious commitment to long-term peace, including steps to de-escalate and cease the violence," the statement declared. "Additionally, discussions were held on the future prosperity agenda, which focuses on supporting Ukraine's reconstruction post-war, fostering U.S.-Ukraine economic collaboration, and long-term recovery projects."

Russian officials have yet to comment on the latest round of talks. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, met with Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's lead negotiator, in Florida following recent discussions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoys at the Kremlin. Yuri Ushakov, a senior Kremlin official, described Tuesday's talks as "constructive, very useful, and substantive," noting the importance of territorial issues, though no compromise has been reached. "Some of the American proposals are more or less acceptable, but they still require further discussion," Ushakov remarked earlier this week.

However, Ushakov also acknowledged that "we are not closer to resolving the crisis in Ukraine, and much work remains." He revealed that Moscow had received four additional documents beyond the original 28-point proposal submitted by the Trump administration last month, but did not provide further details on their content.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who participated in talks with Ukrainian officials last weekend, called the discussions "productive," though he acknowledged that "many aspects remain fluid." President Trump expressed optimism after Sunday's meeting, stating, "I think there's a good chance we can reach an agreement."

The original U.S.-backed peace plan, which was unveiled last month, has undergone revisions after some aspects were criticized as overly favorable to Russia. One contentious provision that faced heavy opposition from U.S. and European officials called for Ukraine to cede control of parts of Donetsk to Russia. Trump stated over the weekend that "the Russians are making concessions," referring to their agreement to halt the fighting and not expand their territorial gains.

The latest round of discussions took place at the Shell Bay Club in Hallandale Beach, Florida, a luxury venue owned by Witkoff's real estate development company. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed the hope that U.S. officials would provide clarity on the talks held at the Kremlin. Zelenskyy, along with European allies, has repeatedly accused Putin of stalling peace efforts while intensifying the invasion. In a video address on Thursday, Zelenskyy said officials were keen to learn "what new excuses Putin has come up with to prolong the war and pressure Ukraine."

Russian official Ushakov, speaking to journalist Pavel Zarubin on Friday, praised Kushners potential role in brokering a peace agreement. "If a settlement plan is put forward, it will be Mr. Kushners pen that shapes it," Ushakov said. These comments come at a time when Putin is attempting to drive a wedge between Trump, Ukraine, and Europe, as Trump grows increasingly frustrated with the prolonged conflict.

Putin, who visited India on Thursday, described his five-hour talks this week with Witkoff and Kushner as "necessary" and "useful," although he stated that some proposals were unacceptable. Kushner, who served as a senior advisor to Trump during his first term, played a key role in developing the Abraham Accords, which established formal relations between Israel and several Arab nations. While his role in Trumps second term is more informal, Kushner was instrumental in negotiating ceasefires and hostage exchanges between Israel and Hamas this fall. Trump has once again tapped Kushner to collaborate with Witkoff to help bring an end to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Author: Natalie Monroe