Senior officials from the United States and Ukraine have discussed a peace plan, with the top US diplomat stressing that the goal is not just realizing a ceasefire but also protecting Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The talks took place in the southern US state of Florida on Sunday. Participants included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov.
Rubio said at the beginning of the meeting: “So this is not just about peace deals. It’s about creating a pathway forward that leaves Ukraine sovereign, independent and prosperous.”
Rubio and Umerov spoke to reporters after the talks. The two officials stressed that the meeting was very productive.
Regarding the peace plan, Rubio said: “There’s more work to be done. This is delicate. It’s complicated.”
He suggested that further discussions involving Russia would not be easy.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who also attended the talks, is expected to visit Russia this week to meet President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine is believed to have sought modifications of a US-backed peace plan when officials from Kyiv and Washington met in Geneva, Switzerland, on November 23.
At the time, Ukraine reportedly thought the plan called for Kyiv to make major concessions in line with demands from Moscow.
Russia and Ukraine are believed to remain sharply divided over what terms a peace plan should contain.
Concerns are rising that negotiations could be impacted by the resignation of Ukraine’s presidential office head, Andriy Yermak, who was the closest aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Yermak served as Ukraine’s chief negotiator in the November 23 meeting before submitting his resignation amid a corruption investigation
