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Negotiators representing Russia and the United States have held talks in the US city of Miami, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Washington to intensify pressure on Moscow in an effort to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.
The meeting, which took place on Saturday, involved Kirill Dmitriev, a special envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Steve Witkoff, the special envoy of US President Donald Trump, along with Trumpâs son-in-law Jared Kushner. Speaking to reporters following the talks, Dmitriev described the discussions as constructive and confirmed that negotiations would continue into Sunday.
âThe discussions are proceeding constructively,â Dmitriev said. âThey started earlier today, will continue throughout the day, and will also continue tomorrow.â
US Signals Cautious Optimism
Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that he could also join the Miami talks. Rubio said that while progress had been made in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, significant obstacles remained.
âThe role weâre trying to play is to determine whether there is any overlap between the parties that could form the basis of an agreement,â Rubio said. âThatâs what weâve invested a great deal of time and energy into, and we will continue to do so. That may not be possible, but I hope it is. I hope something can be achieved before the end of the year.â
According to US officials, Trumpâs envoys have spent weeks negotiating a 20-point peace framework with Ukrainian, Russian and European representatives. However, despite reported advances, major disagreements persistâparticularly over territorial issues and security guarantees, which Kyiv insists are essential for any lasting settlement.
Kyiv Urges Greater Pressure on Moscow
Russia has given few indications that it is willing to abandon its far-reaching territorial claims in Ukraine, believing it is in a strong position as the conflict drags on and political divisions deepen among some of Ukraineâs European allies.
In Kyiv, President Zelenskyy reiterated his support for US-led diplomatic efforts but stressed that negotiations must be backed by stronger measures against Russia.
âAmerica must clearly say: if diplomacy does not work, then there will be full pressure,â Zelenskyy said. âPutin does not yet feel the kind of pressure that should exist.â
Zelenskyy also revealed that Washington had proposed a new negotiation format, involving trilateral talks between national security advisers from Ukraine, Russia and the United States.
While expressing scepticism about whether such talks would produce meaningful breakthroughs, the Ukrainian leader said Kyiv would support the initiative if it resulted in tangible outcomes such as prisoner exchanges or progress toward a leadersâ summit.
âIf such a meeting could be held now to enable prisoner swaps, or if national security advisers can agree on a meeting of national leaders, I cannot oppose that,â Zelenskyy said. âWe would support such a US proposal. Letâs see how things develop.â
Background and Escalating Violence
The last official direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian envoys took place in July in Istanbul, resulting in prisoner exchanges but little progress on ending the war.
The Miami negotiations come as President Putin reaffirmed his intention to continue Russiaâs military campaign in Ukraine, praising Moscowâs battlefield advances during his annual news conference on Friday.
At the same time, Putin suggested that Russia could temporarily halt its devastating strikes to allow Ukraine to hold a presidential electionâa proposal that Zelenskyy swiftly rejected.
Deadly Attacks Continue
Meanwhile, violence on the ground continued to escalate. In Ukraineâs Black Sea region of Odesa, the death toll from an overnight Russian ballistic missile strike on port infrastructure rose to eight, with 30 people injured.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said a civilian bus was hit during the attack. In recent weeks, Russian strikes along the coastline have severely damaged infrastructure, destroying bridges and leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity and heating amid freezing winter temperatures.
Russia has previously said it would intensify attacks on Ukrainian ports in retaliation for Kyivâs targeting of oil tankers allegedly used to circumvent international sanctions.
Claims of Counterstrikes
On Saturday, Ukraineâs security service, the SBU, claimed that Ukrainian forces destroyed two Russian fighter jets at an airfield in Moscow-occupied Crimea. Ukraineâs military also reported striking a Russian oil rig in the Caspian Sea, as well as a nearby patrol vessel.
Competing Narratives of the War
President Putin continues to describe Russiaâs full-scale invasion of Ukraine as a âspecial military operationâ aimed at âdemilitarisingâ the country and preventing NATOâs expansion.
Ukraine and its European allies reject this narrative, characterising the conflictânow the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War IIâas an unprovoked and illegal land grab that has unleashed widespread violence, destruction and humanitarian suffering across the region.
As diplomatic efforts continue in Miami, the gulf between the parties remains wide, even as pressure mounts to find a path toward de-escalation and an end to the conflict.Â
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