The talks in Miami come a day after meetings between U.S., Ukrainian and European officials, part of ongoing negotiations around a peace framework that has raised cautious optimism more than two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, arrived in Miami for discussions with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, according to a Russian source. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio indicated he could also take part. Some earlier meetings have reportedly been held at Witkoff’s golf club in Hallandale Beach.

Officials from the United States, Ukraine and Europe said earlier this week that progress had been made on possible security guarantees for Kyiv, though it remains uncertain whether Moscow would accept those terms. A Russian source said there would be no direct meeting between Dmitriev and Ukrainian negotiators.

Speaking in Kyiv on Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine would support a U.S. proposal for three-sided talks involving Washington and Moscow if it helped advance prisoner exchanges and opened the door to leader-level meetings.

“America is now proposing a trilateral meeting with national security advisers — America Ukraine, Russia,” Zelenskyy told local journalists in Kyiv.

Despite diplomatic efforts, U.S. intelligence assessments continue to warn that Putin aims to take control of all of Ukraine, contradicting suggestions that Russia is ready to compromise. Putin reiterated in Moscow that his conditions for ending the war remain unchanged, including Ukraine abandoning NATO aspirations and withdrawing from four regions claimed by Russia.

Ukraine has rejected ceding territory still under its control. Chief negotiator Rustem Umerov said U.S. and European teams agreed to continue joint efforts. Rubio said progress has been made but acknowledged challenges remain.

“The role we’re trying to play is a role of figuring out whether there’s any overlap here that they can agree to, and that’s what we’ve invested a lot of time and energy and continue to do so. That may not be possible. I hope it is. I hope it can get done this month before the end of the year.”

Officials confirmed that the discussions took place near Miami at an exclusive venue developed by American real estate magnate Steve Witkoff a private location chosen to ensure confidentiality and security for the sensitive diplomatic meeting.

A Step Forward, but Not a Breakthrough

According to U.S. officials, the meeting focused on refining a draft peace plan that Washington and Kyiv have been developing for months. While both sides described the talks as productive, they acknowledged that several “core issues” remain unresolved.

“We’ve seen substantive progress, but there is still more work to do before we can reach a comprehensive deal,” a senior U.S. official said after the meeting.

Ukraine also noted that discussions were “constructive and detailed,” aligning both nations more closely on what a future peace settlement could look like particularly regarding territorial concerns, long term security guarantees, and international oversight of any agreement.

Context: A War Entering Its Fourth Year

The talks come as the Russia-Ukraine war is approaching its fourth year, with both sides facing mounting military, economic, and humanitarian strain. Although the U.S. and Ukraine have repeatedly said they will not accept any peace plan that rewards aggression, Washington has recently intensified diplomatic efforts amid shifting global dynamics and domestic political pressure.

This Florida meeting follows a series of quiet negotiations held in neutral locations across Europe and the United States, as Kyiv seeks stronger guarantees of long term military aid and Russia signals limited openness to negotiations through back-channel diplomacy.

Why the Florida Venue Matters

The venue a private club developed by Steve Witkoff’s real estate group underscores the strategic privacy surrounding the talks. Witkoff, known for developing luxury properties in New York, Florida, and Las Vegas, has maintained close connections with U.S. political and corporate circles. The seclusion of the resort provided an ideal environment for both delegations to meet away from media scrutiny.

What Comes Next?

The U.S. delegation is expected to brief European allies ahead of another round of discussions planned for early next month. American officials stress that any deal must be acceptable to Ukraine and aligned with international law, but they also acknowledge the growing urgency to establish a roadmap toward ending the conflict.

For now, Washington describes the trajectory as “encouraging,” yet cautioning that “no agreement is imminent.”