Last weekend in Florida, high-stakes talks between U.S., Ukrainian, and Russian reps took place, aiming to finalize a 20-point plan to end the nearly four-year conflict in Ukraine. The vibe? Mostly productive—but the devil's in the details. 🌍🕊️
Think of it like assembling an Avengers-level squad: everyone’s got different superpowers (and demands), but they need to work together to save the day. 🦸♂️🦸♀️
🤝 Productive momentum
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump adviser Jared Kushner met Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev before joining Ukraine’s senior official Rustem Umerov and European partners. According to X posts by Witkoff, the talks centered on four key areas: the U.S.-drafted 20-point plan, a multilateral security guarantee framework, a bilateral U.S.-Ukraine guarantee, and economic rebuilding. They’re nailing down timelines and sequencing for the next steps.
Umerov stressed that "peace must be more than a ceasefire; it needs to lay the groundwork for a stable, prosperous future."
⚔️ Hurdles on the horizon
However, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov cautioned that European and Ukrainian tweaks haven’t swayed Russia’s core demands. Dmitriev is headed back to Moscow to brief President Putin, and the Kremlin says it’ll solidify its position before the next round.
💡 Expert insights
Su Xiaohui from the China Institute of International Studies points out these discussions are largely technical. With territorial sovereignty on the line, a quick fix is unlikely. The U.S. wants short-term progress to step back from the conflict, while Russia seeks a broader resolution with the West. A full peace plan? Probably not in 2026.
More talks are expected next year. Can all parties bridge the gap and turn plans into lasting peace? Stay tuned. 🤔
Reference(s):
Ukraine talks: Challenges persist despite 'productive' negotiations
cgtn.com
