President Donald Trump’s peace envoys are scheduled to meet with Ukrainian and European representatives in Miami on Friday to explore “new ideas” aimed at concluding the conflict with Russia, according to two US sources speaking to AFP.
The announcement follows a day of heightened violence, as a Russian strike on buses in the frontline city of Kramatorsk killed 30 people, marking one of the deadliest recent attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the upcoming talks after learning of the assault.
“The Ukrainian negotiating team is due to meet Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in the US tomorrow,” Zelensky stated on Thursday. “The meeting is expected to last two days. We are also counting on a European team to join our negotiating group.”
Zelensky confirmed that his chief of staff, Kyrylo Budanov, along with top officials Rustem Umerov, Sergiy Kyslytsya, and David Arakhamia, will participate in the discussions in Florida.
While US-led peace initiatives have largely stalled, with Washington currently focused on its confrontation with Iran despite Kyiv’s warnings of intensified Russian aerial bombardments, officials indicate a renewed effort is underway. This push follows recent visits by Witkoff, a close associate of Trump and the president’s roving envoy, and Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, to Moscow and Kyiv last month.
One US source familiar with the situation told AFP that the negotiators would discuss proposals initially developed during those regional visits. American officials have invited national security advisors from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, as well as representatives from NATO and the European Union, to join the proceedings.
Discussions are expected to cover security guarantees for Ukraine and a post-war economic recovery plan. A source noted that European nations have expressed frustration to Washington regarding rising energy costs. Trump has attributed these cost increases to Ukrainian strikes on Russian diesel refineries, rather than the broader context of the US-Iran conflict.
“They are all nervous about the winter. It will be a tough winter if the war does not stop,” the source added, emphasizing that the United States aims to mediate between the sides to produce a unified proposal.
Last week, Zelensky revealed that the US wished to restart peace efforts by brokering a new round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia by the end of October. The Kremlin had previously suggested that such three-way talks could occur in the same timeframe.
Previous attempts have failed to generate tangible progress, largely because Moscow has refused to abandon its maximalist demands. Meanwhile, Trump mentioned earlier this week that a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin was scheduled, though it was anticipated to focus primarily on the reported death of a researcher at a Russian plague laboratory.
In a sign that Ukraine remained a priority, Witkoff was observed traveling alongside Trump on Air Force One on Wednesday during a campaign stop in Texas ahead of the US midterm elections.
Kushner and Witkoff handling this? Interesting picks. Let’s see if their informal channels translate into concrete policy shifts.
European frustration over energy costs is clear. This winter could be the real catalyst pushing everyone to the table, unfortunately.
With the recent Kramatorsk strike killing thirty, timing feels brutal. How can peace be discussed while civilians are still under fire?
Miami seems an odd neutral ground for such sensitive negotiations. Is there a specific reason behind this location choice?
Good to see diplomacy finally getting traction after all this stalemate. Hope these talks actually yield results this time.