Ukraine peace talks in Miami proceeding 'constructively,' Russian envoy says
Talks are expected to continue on Sunday.
LONDON — U.S. negotiators have proposed a possible new framework for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia during the latest round of discussions in Florida, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday. The format could include American and potentially European representatives.
“The U.S. said they would hold a separate meeting with Russian representatives,” Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv following talks with Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.
“They proposed the following format, as I understand it: Ukraine, the United States, Russia — and, since European representatives are involved, possibly Europe as well,” he said.
U.S. officials met with Russian counterparts in Florida on Saturday. Russia was represented by Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy of President Vladimir Putin and CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, who traveled to Miami for the talks.
Dmitriev said discussions are expected to continue on Sunday. “The talks are proceeding constructively,” he said, according to Russia’s state-run Tass news agency.
Ukrainian and European officials held a new round of talks with U.S. counterparts in the United States on Friday and agreed to maintain contact going forward, Ukraine’s chief negotiator Rustem Umerov said.
Despite the renewed diplomatic efforts, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered no sign of flexibility on Moscow’s war objectives during his annual year-end press conference the same day. “The ball is entirely in our Western opponents’ court,” Putin said.
He reiterated that any peace agreement must be based on “principles” he outlined in a speech last year, which included some of his most uncompromising demands — Ukraine’s permanent exclusion from NATO and Kyiv’s withdrawal from all territories Russia claims in eastern and southeastern Ukraine.
Putin again asserted that battlefield momentum favored Russian forces, claiming troops were “advancing on all fronts.”
The Russian leader also repeated his praise for former U.S. President Donald Trump while criticizing European countries. He said Russia would refrain from military action against European states as long as they treat Moscow “with respect.”
As negotiators met in Miami, Russia and Ukraine continued exchanging long-range strikes into the early hours of Sunday.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 97 drones overnight, with 75 intercepted or electronically suppressed. Nineteen drones struck targets across eight locations, according to the military.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses destroyed at least three Ukrainian drones overnight into Sunday morning.
