High-Stakes Ukraine Peace Talks Unfold in Florida as Trump Administration Pushes for Resolution

Top officials from the Trump administration gathered with Ukrainian negotiators in Florida over the weekend, working intensively to craft a framework that could end the ongoing conflict with Russia. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner met with Ukraine’s delegation to refine details of a proposed peace agreement, setting the stage for crucial discussions in Moscow later this week.
The talks occurred during a tumultuous period for Ukraine’s leadership. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the departure of his chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, who had previously led negotiations with the United States. This change came after anti-corruption investigators searched Yermak’s residence, adding to domestic pressure on Zelenskyy’s government following a scandal involving embezzlement from the energy sector.
Ukraine’s new negotiating team includes military chief Andrii Hnatov, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Security Council head Rustem Umerov. These officials are working to revise Trump’s controversial 28-point peace proposal, which initially faced criticism for favoring Russian positions. The original plan suggested Ukraine surrender the entire Donbas region, limit its military size, abandon NATO membership aspirations, and conduct elections within 100 days.
Trump indicated that Witkoff and possibly Kushner would travel to Moscow this week for direct talks with Vladimir Putin. Both men, like Trump, come from real estate backgrounds and prioritize dealmaking approaches. They previously helped broker a 20-point ceasefire agreement in Gaza, demonstrating their unconventional diplomatic style.
Meanwhile, violence continues on the ground. Russian drone and missile strikes near Kyiv killed multiple people over the weekend, with Zelenskyy reporting that Russia deployed 122 strike drones and ballistic missiles in a single day. The Ukrainian president emphasized the urgent need for air defense systems while expressing cautious optimism about the American side’s “constructive approach” to negotiations. Kazakhstan also protested Ukraine’s attack on an oil terminal near Novorossiysk, warning that such actions harm bilateral relations.