U.S. and Russian officials continued talks in Miami for a second day on Sunday as Washington presses for a potential ceasefire framework to end the war in Ukraine. The discussions come as Kyiv says the U.S. has proposed the first direct Ukraine–Russia talks in six months, though Ukrainian officials remain skeptical.
The talks involve U.S. and Russian envoys and are part of the Trump administration’s broader diplomatic push, which has also included meetings with Ukrainian and European officials earlier this week. Newsweek reached out to the U.S. State Department and the Kremlin for comment.
Why It Matter
The Miami meetings underscore Washington’s intensified diplomatic effort to shape a ceasefire proposal as the war approaches its fourth year. Any breakthrough would have implications for battlefield dynamics, sanctions policy, and U.S. relations with both Moscow and Kyiv.
At the same time, public skepticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlights the challenges facing negotiations amid continued fighting and sharply different positions held by Russia and Ukraine.
What To Know
U.S. and Russian special envoys met over the weekend in Miami to discuss a proposed U.S. peace framework aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, according to Euronews reporting citing then Associated Press. Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev said Saturday that talks on a U.S.-backed 20-point peace plan were “proceeding constructively” and would continue.
According to Russian state media, Dmitriev met with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he may join the discussions.
Separately, Zelenskyy said Washington has proposed holding the first face-to-face negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in six months. While he described the talks as “constructive,” Zelenskyy warned that Russia’s intentions remain unclear amid continued attacks along the frontline and strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov said changes proposed by Ukraine and European partners to the peace framework were slowing progress, arguing they reduce the chances of reaching a long-term agreement.
Explicit caveat: Details of the U.S. peace proposal and the substance of the Miami discussions have not been made public. There has been no independent verification of claims by either side regarding progress toward an agreement.
What People Are Saying
Kirill Dmitriev, Russian envoy, told reporters in Miami that talks on the U.S. peace proposal “are proceeding constructively,” according to Russian state media cited by Euronews.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine, wrote on X: “Much depends on whether Russia feels the need to end the war for real – it must not be a rhetorical or political game on Russia’s part.”
Zelenskyy added that Russia does not yet feel sufficient pressure, saying: “America must clearly say: if not diplomacy, then there will be full pressure.”
Yuri Ushakov, aide to Vladimir Putin, told Russian state media that European and Ukrainian revisions to the peace plan “do not improve the possibility of achieving long-term peace.”
What Happens Next
U.S., Russian, Ukrainian, and European officials are expected to continue parallel diplomatic contacts in the coming days as Washington seeks to advance its ceasefire proposal. No date has been announced for potential direct Ukraine–Russia talks, and further meetings will depend on responses from Moscow and Kyiv.
