This week, the United States and Ukraine kicked off fresh peace talks in Florida as Washington unveils a controversial framework to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 🌴🤝
The U.S. delegation, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, sat down with Ukraine’s national security council secretary, Rustem Umerov. Both sides called the Sunday meeting "very productive," but agree there’s still "more work to do."
President Donald Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One, sounded optimistic: "there’s a good chance we can make a deal," though he hinted at "some difficult little problems" without getting into details.
The talks follow the leak of a 28-point peace proposal released on November 20. After heavy criticism in Kyiv and Europe, the plan was reworked at a U.S.-Ukraine-EU meeting in Geneva on November 23. The revised draft remains under wraps, and while Trump says Kyiv agreed in principle, major sticking points persist.
Special envoy Witkoff is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin today, aiming to weave U.S.-Ukraine understandings into the next round. But after Ukraine secured softening of the original terms, the Kremlin has grown skeptical. Putin recently warned Moscow is "ready in principle to fight to the last Ukrainian," vowing to use force if Ukraine’s troops don’t withdraw.
With the war dragging on and Western support showing signs of fatigue, Trump is under pressure to deliver a ceasefire to boost his midterm prospects. Critics warn this rush could amount to a "complete Ukrainian capitulation," as Senate Intelligence Committee chair Mark Warner put it.
Behind the scenes, Ukrainian officials face their own turmoil. A sweeping corruption scandal has rocked Kyiv and weakened President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Washington had pushed for a deal before Thanksgiving, hoping to finalize terms by early December. But deep divisions over territory, NATO membership and reconstruction mean a lasting ceasefire may still be out of reach.
As negotiations continue, observers wonder if this Florida flashpoint can turn into real peace—or if fresh hurdles will keep the conflict alive. ⚖️🌍
Reference(s):
U.S. push for peace in Ukraine faces headwinds as talks continue
cgtn.com
