Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Umerov and General Andrii Hnatov, Ukraine’s Chief of Staff.
The meeting was described by both sides as a “constructive conversation on promoting a credible path to a lasting and just peace in Ukraine.”
During Friday’s meeting, Umerov stressed that Ukraine’s priority is to reach an agreement that protects its independence and sovereignty, ensures the safety of its citizens and provides a stable foundation for a prosperous democratic future, according to a joint statement by Umerov and the US State Department.
Participants discussed the results of Witkoff and Kushner’s recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and steps that could contribute to ending the war, according to the statement.
The five-hour talks held in Moscow on Tuesday did not lead to a compromise on a possible peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine, Reuters notes.
During talks this week, US and Ukrainian officials “agreed on a framework for security measures and discussed the capabilities needed to ensure lasting peace,” the State Department said, without giving details.
Both sides agreed that real progress toward an agreement would depend on Russia’s willingness to demonstrate a serious commitment to long-term peace, including steps toward de-escalation and an end to the bloodshed, the joint statement said.
The post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, joint American-Ukrainian economic initiatives and long-term recovery projects were also discussed, the State Department announced.
An unnamed White House official previously told Reuters that the meetings, held at an undisclosed location in Miami, were productive, adding that “progress has been made.”
Witkoff and Kushner previously agreed to inform the Ukrainian side about the results of the meeting with Putin, a well-informed source confirmed.
Yuri Ushakov, the Russian president’s chief foreign policy adviser, said Friday that Putin and Witkoff had reached a level of understanding that made their talks “truly friendly.”
Putin held a five-hour meeting with Witkoff and Kushner in the Kremlin on Tuesday, focused on the US proposal for a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine, which Russia began in 2022. Putin later described the talks as “very useful”.
(Vijesti.ba)
