Ukraine’s Fate: Peace Talks & Putin 🇺🇦🤝

World News

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described talks with Ukraine regarding a potential agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine war as productive, stating that “more work remains to be done.” The discussions, held in Hallandale Beach, Florida, involved a Ukrainian delegation led by National Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s newly appointed chief negotiator, alongside US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Witkoff is scheduled to travel to Moscow next week to continue those discussions. Umerov replaced Andriy Yermak, the previous Ukrainian president’s chief negotiator, following a recent anti-corruption raid on his residence. Sunday’s meeting represented the latest development in two weeks of intense diplomatic activity, triggered by the release of a 28-point US peace plan that elicited shock and concern from Ukraine and its European allies due to its apparent prioritization of Russia, which launched its invasion of Ukraine nearly four years prior. “It’s not just about the terms that end fighting,” Rubio noted during the meeting. “It’s about also the terms that set up Ukraine for long-term prosperity. I think we built on that today, but there’s more work to be done.” Umerov stated at the outset of the talks that the objective of negotiations with Russia is to ensure Ukraine’s “sovereign, independent, and prosperous” future, while also preventing any repetition of the aggression that began nearly four years ago.

Speaking on Air Force One Sunday, Donald Trump stated that the talks were “going along well” and that there was a good chance of a deal being reached to end the conflict in Ukraine. “US is hearing us,” Trump said, speaking in English, “US is supporting us. US is working beside us.” He characterized the discussions as “productive and successful,” and Senator Rubio echoed this sentiment, describing them as “very productive and useful.” A key, unresolved issue remains the fate of Ukrainian territory currently either annexed or controlled by Russia. The ongoing conflict between the two ex-Soviet states dates back to 2014, following the overthrow of Ukraine’s pro-Russian president and Russia’s subsequent annexation of Crimea, alongside its support for armed uprisings in eastern Ukraine. February 2022 marked the beginning of this protracted conflict.