The talks, held in Florida, were attended by a Ukrainian delegation led by the Secretary of the National Security Council, Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s new chief negotiator.
The first photo from the meeting of the Ukrainian and US delegations in Florida has appeared
On the American side, the meeting includes Secretary of State Rubio, Kushner, and Trump’s special envoy Whitkoff. The Ukrainian side is headed by NSDC Secretary Umerov.
The most… pic.twitter.com/izsM6her1k
— Sprinter Press (@SprintMediaNews) November 30, 2025
The meeting was also attended by President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow next week for talks.
Umerov was appointed to replace the Ukrainian president’s chief negotiator, Andriy Yermak, who resigned after an anti-corruption raid on his home.
Sunday’s meeting is the latest step in two weeks of intense diplomatic activity.
BREAKING AND UNUSUAL
Officials from the Trump administration are beginning their negotiations with the Ukrainian delegation in Florida regarding peace between Russia and Ukraine!
Marco Rubio sat across from Umerov and said:
“The goal is not just a peace agreement, but a… pic.twitter.com/0JaOdQzJKA
— RussiaNews (@mog_russEN) November 30, 2025
It all started after the leak of a 28-point US peace plan that shocked Ukraine and its European allies because it appeared to favor Russia, which invaded Ukraine nearly four years ago.
“It’s not just the conditions that stop the fighting,” Rubio said at a meeting in Hallandale Beach, north of Miami.
“It is also about the conditions that lay the foundations for a long-term prosperous Ukraine… I think we have made progress today, but there is still work to be done.”
He also told the Ukrainian delegation that the goal of peace talks with Russia is to leave Ukraine “sovereign, independent and prosperous”.
BREAKING: Rubio and Umerov say their Florida talks were “productive”https://t.co/hlcxCI2ISZ
— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) November 30, 2025
At the beginning of Sunday’s talks, Umerov said: “We are talking about the future of Ukraine, about the security of Ukraine, about not repeating the aggression against Ukraine, about the prosperity of Ukraine, about how to rebuild Ukraine.”
“The US hears us,” he said in English.
“The US supports us. The US works together with us.”
He later described the talks as “productive and successful,” while Rubio said they were “very productive and helpful.”
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said talks were “going well” and there was a good chance an agreement could be reached to end the standoff.
He previously said he would send Witkoff, and possibly Kushner, to Moscow this week to meet with President Vladimir Putin to discuss a much-revised peace plan.
In a post on social media, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said: “It is important that the talks have a constructive dynamic and that all issues are discussed openly, with a clear focus on securing Ukraine’s sovereignty and national interests.”
Rubio stressed that the talks are not just about ending the war but ensuring Ukraine’s prosperity and sovereignty. He confirms Witkoff will travel to Russia later this week. Umerov repeatedly thanks US. https://t.co/q5Ue8XP6fg
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) November 30, 2025
He added that he was grateful to the US and Trump for their efforts to try to end the war.
One key outstanding issue is the fate of Ukrainian territory either annexed or controlled by Russia.
The talks in Florida “were not easy,” a source close to the Ukrainian delegation told AFP.
“But everyone is trying to be constructive and find a solution,” the source added.
On Monday, Zelensky is scheduled to visit Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, a strong ally.
Tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed or wounded, as well as thousands of civilians, and at least seven million people have become refugees since Russia invaded on February 24, 2022.
The conflict between the two former Soviet states dates back to 2014, when Ukraine’s pro-Russian president was ousted and Russia responded by annexing Crimea and supporting armed rebellions in eastern Ukraine.
(Vijesti.ba)
