Rubio: US-Ukraine Talks Productive, Peace Still Elusive/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ U.S. and Ukrainian officials met in Florida for four hours to discuss a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war. Senator Marco Rubio called the session productive but emphasized the complexity of reaching a lasting peace. Talks occur amid political scandals, active warfare, and an upcoming Trump envoy visit to Moscow.
Ukraine Peace Efforts Quick Looks
- U.S. and Ukrainian officials met in Florida for high-level peace discussions.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the talks “productive” but said more work remains.
- Special envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with Russian President Putin in Moscow.
- President Trump emphasized Ukraine’s corruption scandal complicates negotiations.
- Ukraine’s Zelenskyy government is under pressure after a $100 million embezzlement scandal.
- U.S. aims for a peace plan that ensures Ukraine’s independence and economic prosperity.
- Ukraine appreciated U.S. support but revealed no specific breakthroughs in the meeting.
- Updated peace proposals may involve shared infrastructure rebuilding and commercial ties.
- Russia continues missile and drone attacks, killing civilians near Kyiv.
- Kazakhstan criticized Ukraine after an attack on a Black Sea oil terminal.
Deep Look
Florida Peace Talks See Progress Amid Lingering Challenges in Russia-Ukraine War
Hallandale Beach, Fla. — U.S. and Ukrainian officials met on Sunday for nearly four hours in a critical step toward ending the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Although progress was made, key participants acknowledged that a final agreement remains distant.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the session, held at the Shell Bay Club in Florida, as productive. However, he stressed that crafting a peace agreement that ensures Ukraine’s long-term security and economic stability remains a complex endeavor.
“It’s not just about the terms that end the fighting,” Rubio said after the talks. “It’s about terms that help Ukraine thrive beyond this war. We made progress, but a lot more needs to happen.”
The meeting came days before President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Witkoff, along with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, joined Rubio in representing the U.S. side during the high-stakes discussions.
President Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One, noted that Ukraine is facing internal complications amid corruption investigations. “Ukraine’s got some difficult little problems,” Trump said, referring to a scandal involving $100 million in energy sector kickbacks. “That’s not helpful. But I think there’s a good chance we can make a deal.”
Ukraine’s delegation was led by Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s security council, who thanked the United States for its ongoing support. “U.S. is hearing us. U.S. is supporting us. U.S. is working beside us,” Umerov said before the talks.
No immediate breakthroughs were announced following the closed-door discussions, but officials hinted that negotiations are advancing, especially in light of the upcoming U.S.-Russia meeting.
Rubio emphasized that beyond stopping the war, the U.S. is committed to helping Ukraine achieve “true prosperity.” He referenced a U.S.-Ukraine agreement signed earlier this year that grants American companies access to Ukraine’s valuable mineral resources. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to integrate Ukraine more closely with Western economies and fortify its post-war recovery.
The revised peace proposal being circulated includes the creation of a Ukraine Development Fund. This fund would invest in industries such as artificial intelligence, technology, and energy infrastructure. A notable aspect of the plan is a joint U.S.-Ukraine effort to rebuild and modernize natural gas infrastructure, including storage facilities and pipelines—targets repeatedly bombed by Russia during the war.
Ukraine’s head of staff Andrii Yermak, who had been a key negotiator in earlier rounds, recently resigned after anti-corruption investigators searched his home. His departure marked a shift in leadership as Umerov took the lead in this round of talks.
Additional Ukrainian officials included top military leader Andrii Hnatov and presidential adviser Oleksandr Bevz.
An earlier 28-point peace plan proposed by Trump had called for Ukraine to limit its military, delay NATO membership, and hold elections within 100 days. That version has since been scaled back and described by Trump as more of a “concept” to be “fine-tuned.” Reports suggest that the provision requiring Ukraine to surrender the Donbas region may also be under reconsideration.
Putin is expected to meet with Witkoff before departing for India on Thursday. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Putin’s intention to hold talks.
Both Witkoff and Kushner bring a background in real estate, emphasizing dealmaking rather than traditional diplomacy. Their previous success in brokering a 20-point ceasefire proposal for Gaza lends weight to their involvement in Ukraine peace talks.
Despite the diplomatic push, violence on the ground continues. Russian drone and missile attacks over the weekend killed at least three people in and around Kyiv. A separate attack on Sunday in Vyshhorod, near the capital, killed one person and injured 19 others, including children. President Zelenskyy reported that Russia deployed 122 strike drones and ballistic missiles on Sunday alone.
“This week, Russians have used nearly 1,400 drones, 1,100 aerial bombs, and over 60 missiles against our people,” Zelenskyy said in a statement. He reiterated the urgent need for Western air defense systems and long-term peace strategies.
On the geopolitical front, Ukraine’s recent strike on a Russian oil terminal near Novorossiysk—claimed as a strategic victory—drew condemnation from Kazakhstan. The terminal is part of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), a key exporter of Kazakh oil. Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry issued a warning to Ukraine, calling the attack harmful to bilateral relations.
With continued fighting, corruption scandals, and complex diplomacy in play, the road to peace remains long. But as Rubio emphasized, the goal is not only to end the war—but to ensure that Ukraine emerges safer, sovereign, and economically stronger.
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