Negotiators from the United States, Ukraine and European countries held six-hour talks in the US city of Miami on Friday, seeking to agree on a unified proposal to end the war in Ukraine ahead of presenting it to Russia in the coming weeks.
Negotiators target agreement within weeks
A person familiar with the talks, who requested anonymity, said participants aimed to finalise agreement on the proposal in the coming weeks, hoping to achieve a political breakthrough before winter. The efforts are part of ongoing attempts to launch a negotiating track leading to a settlement of the war.
The Miami meetings were attended by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, along with Ukrainian delegations and representatives of European countries and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), reflecting the number of parties involved in drafting the proposed framework. The discussions covered a range of issues relating to possible arrangements for the post-war period.
Security guarantees and plan to rebuild Ukraine
The source familiar with the talks said participants discussed a support package for Ukraine, including security guarantees from the United States and European countries as part of any settlement reached. The delegations also discussed an economic plan to rebuild Ukraine after the war, alongside consideration of the path linked to Kyiv’s accession to the European Union.
This places economic recovery and European integration among the issues being considered for inclusion in the broader political vision. On an issue the source described as “sensitive”, negotiators exchanged “some ideas” concerning territory. The issue is one of the main points of disagreement in settlement efforts, as Ukraine insists that Russia must relinquish the territories it took control of during the war.
The discussions also extended to a vision for a new security structure governing relations between Europe and Russia. The source said the vision was intended to consolidate stability and pave the way for years of peace in the future, forming part of broader security arrangements that could follow the end of the fighting.
The talks are taking place as diplomatic efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, ongoing since February 2022, have stalled, despite repeated attempts to open a negotiating track leading to a political settlement. In recent months, the United States and European countries have intensified efforts to develop a framework that could pave the way for a ceasefire and then a lasting agreement.
In contrast to Kyiv’s position on territory, US President Donald Trump believes reaching a peace agreement will require concessions from both sides. The parties taking part in the Miami talks are seeking to formulate a common position before conveying the proposal to Moscow at the next stage.
