U.S. Push for Ukraine Peace Deal Faces Resistance as Fresh Talks Begin
The United States and Ukraine have launched a new round of negotiations in Florida as Washington attempts to advance its proposed framework to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict — a plan that continues to draw criticism in Kyiv and across Europe.
Senior U.S. and Ukrainian officials met near Miami on Sunday for what both sides described as constructive but inconclusive discussions.
The American delegation included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Donald Trump. Ukraine’s team was led by national security council secretary Rustem Umerov.
Rubio said the talks were “very productive,” but noted that “there’s more work to do.” Speaking aboard Air Force One, President Trump also expressed optimism, remarking that “there’s a good chance we can make a deal,” although he hinted that Ukraine was facing “some difficult little problems.”
Umerov said the two sides had discussed “all the matters important for Ukraine, for Ukrainian people,” adding that the U.S. delegation was “super supportive.”
The meeting comes after the leak of a 28-point peace proposal drafted by the White House on November 20. The initial plan was widely criticised in Ukraine and among European allies for being overly accommodating to Russia.
It underwent significant revisions during a U.S.-Ukraine-EU meeting in Geneva on November 23, though the updated text has not been released publicly. Trump has since claimed that Kyiv agreed in principle to the revised version, but several contentious issues reportedly remain unresolved.
With Witkoff expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, analysts say Washington’s attempt to outline U.S.-Ukraine understandings ahead of talks with Moscow has become a key sticking point. Kyiv’s successful push for softer language in the original proposal has reportedly heightened scepticism in the Kremlin.
Last week, Putin reiterated Russia’s territorial demands, declaring Moscow “ready in principle” to “fight to the last Ukrainian.” He repeated his condition that Ukrainian troops withdraw from occupied territories before any cessation of hostilities, warning that if they did not, Russia would “achieve that by armed force.”
As the conflict drags on and Western support shows signs of strain, analysts argue that Trump is seeking a quick ceasefire to demonstrate diplomatic progress ahead of next year’s U.S. midterm elections. Critics, however, warn that the administration is prioritizing political timelines over Ukraine’s long-term security. Senator Mark Warner has described the leaked proposal as amounting to “complete Ukrainian capitulation.”
Others suggest Trump’s broader strategy is to freeze the conflict, reducing U.S. military and financial commitments while preserving leverage over both Europe and Russia.
The renewed pressure on Kyiv coincides with a deepening political crisis inside Ukraine, where a major corruption scandal involving senior officials and business figures close to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has weakened his administration. The turmoil comes as Russian forces continue to make incremental gains along several fronts.
Washington had initially urged Zelenskyy to sign an agreement before Thanksgiving, hoping to present terms to Moscow by the end of November and conclude negotiations in early December. However, with significant divisions remaining over territorial control, NATO aspirations and post-war reconstruction, diplomats caution that a ceasefire agreement is still far from reach.
