Diplomats from the United States and Ukraine convened for a second consecutive day in Miami, Florida, on Friday to advance discussions on a U.S.-supported framework intended to resolve the protracted conflict in Ukraine. The ongoing negotiations, which officials from both nations confirmed to Axios, follow preliminary high-level talks earlier in the week involving Russian leadership, signaling a concentrated diplomatic push to establish a viable peace path.
The Friday sessions focused on strategy following an intensive and lengthy meeting that concluded early Wednesday. That initial engagement featured U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, along with Jared Kushner, meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Subsequently, Witkoff and Kushner held a productive two-hour meeting with the Ukrainian delegation on Thursday evening before resuming comprehensive discussions Friday morning. During the Friday meeting, the American representatives provided Ukraine with a detailed readout of their exchange with Putin and presented new concepts designed to bridge the existing differences between the warring parties.
High-Level Participants and Positive Momentum
The Ukrainian contingent in Miami includes key defense and security leaders, underscoring the serious nature of the negotiations. Leading the delegation is Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, accompanied by Andrii Hnatov, Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian armed forces. Their presence indicates that the discussions are encompassing both diplomatic and critical military components crucial for an eventual cessation of hostilities.
A U.S. official characterized the initial Thursday session as constructive and reaffirmed that the talks are poised to continue into the weekend. The decision to extend the dialogue reflects a mutual commitment to capitalize on the recent diplomatic momentum and thoroughly explore the parameters of the proposed peace plan.
Addressing the Diplomatic Gap
The primary objective of these multi-day negotiations is to refine the specifics of the U.S.-backed proposal, aiming to create mutually agreeable terms that Russia and Ukraine can accept. The involvement of top U.S. officials, including both an appointed envoy and a senior advisor to the President, highlights the significant American investment in achieving a resolution. The briefing provided by Witkoff and Kushner on their dialogue with President Putin is critical, as it serves to rapidly align the peace proposal with the latest communication from Moscow, focusing the discussion on actionable compromises.
These high-stakes meetings carry implications far beyond the immediate conflict zone. A successful framework offers a potential off-ramp for the geopolitical instability caused by the war. As negotiators delve into complex issues—including security guarantees, territorial integrity, and withdrawal timelines—the sustained, high-level engagement in Miami suggests a serious effort is underway to transition from conflict management to conflict resolution. Future steps will depend heavily on the outcome of the weekend sessions and whether the new ideas tabled by the U.S. prove sufficient to narrow the long-standing differences.