Ukraine talks in Florida have begun

TT

Published 16.45

 

US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and businessman and Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner meet the press ahead of the meeting in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Photo: Terry Renna/AP/TT

Talks on a peace agreement in the war in Ukraine, held between an American and a Ukrainian delegation in Florida, have begun.

The new talks are a continuation of the recent negotiations in Geneva, and the starting point is the 19-point draft that was developed last weekend by Ukraine and the United States.

“The American side is showing a constructive attitude and it is quite possible that in the coming days we will be able to hammer out the steps necessary to bring the war to a dignified end,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his daily address late on Saturday.

Neither he nor US President Donald Trump are directly participating in the talks.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters just before the meeting that the goal of the talks is to “bring an end to the war that gives Ukraine sovereignty and independence with opportunities for real prosperity.”

Rubio, along with envoy Steve Witkoff, is leading the US delegation. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner is also scheduled to attend the meeting.

Rustem Umerov, who heads Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, is leading the Ukrainian delegation.