US and Ukraine Urge Russia for Commitment to Peace Following Talks

In a significant dialogue earlier this week, high-ranking officials from Ukraine and the United States have urged Russia to demonstrate a genuine commitment to achieving enduring peace. This appeal comes after discussions held in Moscow failed to yield any substantial progress.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Rustem Umerov, the secretary of Ukraine’s national security council, engaged in what has been characterized as “constructive” negotiations over two days in Florida. The joint statement emphasized that any hopes for resolving the conflict in Ukraine hinge on Russia’s willingness to initiate actions aimed at reducing tensions and halting violence.

The ongoing negotiations, which also include Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former President Donald Trump, are set to extend into a third day on Saturday. During these discussions, Witkoff and Umerov reached an agreement on the foundational security arrangements that could support a potential peace deal and exchanged views on the necessary deterrence measures to ensure lasting stability.

The talks in Florida focused on updating the Ukrainian delegation about the recent meeting between Trump’s top overseas envoy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which took place earlier this week. Witkoff’s nearly five-hour conversation with Putin in Moscow on Tuesday concluded without any agreement on the proposed US peace plan, according to the Kremlin.

Despite the lack of resolution, the Kremlin indicated that Putin is open to continuing discussions with American representatives as often as necessary. However, both Ukraine and its European partners remain skeptical about Putin’s sincerity regarding the desire to conclude the conflict.

On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his intention to gather comprehensive insights regarding the discussions in Moscow, particularly concerning any excuses Putin might present to prolong hostilities. Ukraine has sought amendments to the US peace proposal, which was initially perceived as advantageous to Russia after a draft was leaked to the media. Although revisions have been made, the latest iteration has not been publicly disclosed.

Significant disagreements persist between the two parties, particularly regarding post-war security assurances for Ukraine and potential territorial compromises. Currently, Russia occupies approximately 20% of Ukraine’s land, prominently in the Donbas region, which comprises the Donetsk and Luhansk areas.

In a recent interview, Putin cautioned Ukrainian forces to withdraw entirely from the Donbas region, threatening that Russia would resort to military action to “liberate these territories” if they did not comply. Prior to the US delegation’s visit to the Kremlin, Putin was observed in military attire at a command location, receiving updates from commanders claiming they had taken control of Pokrovsk and surrounding areas in Donetsk.

Ukraine firmly contests Russia’s assertion of having lost control over the city. Kyiv, alongside its European allies, believes that the most effective deterrent against future Russian aggression would be Ukraine’s accession to NATO or the establishment of comprehensive security guarantees.

Russia staunchly opposes such moves, while Trump has consistently indicated his reluctance to allow Ukraine to join the military alliance. The potential for Ukraine’s NATO membership was a pivotal subject addressed during discussions in Moscow, according to statements from the Kremlin.

Trump described the discussions as “reasonably good,” but noted that it is premature to predict the outcomes, emphasizing that both parties must be willing to engage for progress to occur.