Ukraine talks ‘productive’ but more work needed, Rubio says

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that talks with Ukraine on reaching an agreement to end the Russian-Ukrainian war were productive, but there was “more work to be done.”

The talks, which were held in Florida, were attended by a Ukrainian delegation headed by National Security Council Secretary Rustam Omerov, the new chief Ukrainian negotiator.

President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner also attended the meeting. Vitkov is scheduled to visit Moscow for talks next week.

Umarov was appointed to replace the Ukrainian president’s chief negotiator, Andriy Ermak, after he resigned following an anti-corruption raid on his home.

Sunday’s meeting is the latest step in two weeks of intense diplomatic activity.

This crisis was sparked by the leak of the US 28-point peace plan, which shocked Ukraine and its European allies because it appeared to side with Russia, which invaded Ukraine nearly four years ago.

“It’s not just about the conditions that end the fight,” Rubio said during the meeting held in Hallandale Beach, north of Miami.

“It’s also about the conditions that set Ukraine up for long-term prosperity… I think we’ve built on that today, but there’s more work to be done,” he added.

He also informed the Ukrainian delegation that the goal of the peace talks with Russia is to leave Ukraine “sovereign, independent and prosperous.”

As talks began on Sunday, Umarov said: “We are discussing the future of Ukraine, the security of Ukraine, non-recurrence of aggression against Ukraine, the prosperity of Ukraine, and how to rebuild Ukraine.”

“The United States hears us,” he said, speaking in English. “The United States supports us. The United States works alongside us.”

He later described the talks as “productive and successful” while Rubio said they were “very productive and useful.”

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said the talks were “going well” and there was a good chance they could reach an agreement to end the conflict.

Trump said earlier that he would send Witkopf and perhaps Kushner as well to Moscow this week to meet with President Vladimir Putin to discuss the 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 and with a clear focus on ensuring Ukraine’s sovereignty and national interests.”

He added that he was grateful to the United States and Trump for their efforts in trying to end the war.

One crucial unresolved issue is the fate of Ukrainian territories that Russia has annexed or taken control of.

A source said to be close to the Ukrainian delegation told AFP that the talks in Florida “were not easy.”

The source added, “But everyone is trying to be constructive and find a solution.”

Zelensky is scheduled to visit Paris on Monday for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, a staunch ally.

Tens of thousands of soldiers were killed or wounded, as well as thousands of civilians At least seven million people became refugees Since the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022.

The conflict between the two former Soviet states dates back to 2014, when the pro-Russian Ukrainian president was overthrown, and Russia responded by annexing the Crimean Peninsula and supporting armed uprisings in eastern Ukraine.