Ukrainian representatives concluded a high-level meeting with U.S. officials in Florida on Sunday as negotiations continued over Washington’s proposed peace framework aimed at bringing an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.

The Ukrainian delegation, led by National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, senior adviser and son-in-law of President Donald Trump. The talks were held at Witkoff’s private golf club in Hallandale Beach, just north of Miami.

Following the meeting, Rubio described the discussions as “very productive,” noting that negotiators focused both on conditions necessary to end the ongoing conflict and on Ukraine’s long-term economic stability and security.

“I thought we started laying the groundwork in Geneva. We continued that work throughout the week, and built on it today,” Rubio told reporters during a press briefing. “This is delicate, it’s complicated, there are a lot of moving parts, and, obviously, there’s another party involved here,” he added, referring to Russia.

On social media, Umerov expressed cautious optimism, saying Kyiv had achieved “substantial progress in advancing a dignified peace and in converging our positions with the American side” after what he described as a “difficult but productive round of negotiations.”

He emphasized that Ukraine’s priorities — security, sovereignty, and a reliable, sustainable peace — remain non-negotiable and said these principles are fully shared by the U.S. delegation.

The talks in Florida are part of an ongoing diplomatic track initiated earlier this year, with both sides signaling that while meaningful progress has been made, significant challenges remain before a comprehensive peace agreement can be reached. (ILKHA)