U.S. and Ukrainian officials hold 'very productive' meeting in Florida

Top U.S. officials and a Ukrainian delegation met in Florida on Sunday for the latest round of discussions on a plan to end the war between Russia and Ukraine — talks both sides described positively but about which they provided no details and took no questions.

"Much work remains, but today was, again, a very productive and useful session where I think additional progress was made," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in short remarks to reporters after the meeting.

Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff met with a Ukrainian delegation headed by Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council. Also present was President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who does not hold an official U.S. government position but serves as an unofficial adviser.

Rubio emphasized wanting to set up Ukraine for "prosperity." He did not delve into specifics, nor did he take questions from reporters.

"As I told you earlier this morning, our goal here is to end the war, but it's more than just to end the war," he said. "We don't just want to end the war; we also want to help Ukraine be safe forever, so never again will they face another invasion, and equally importantly, we want them to enter an age of true prosperity."

Rubio added that the discussions were "not just about the terms that ends fighting, it's about also the terms that set up Ukraine for long-term prosperity."

Umerov expressed gratitude to the U.S. and echoed Rubio's sentiments, saying, "Our objective is a prosperous, strong Ukraine."

"We discussed all the important matters that are important for Ukraine, for Ukrainian people, and U.S. was super supportive," he added, going on to characterize the meeting as "productive" and "successful."

U.S. and Ukrainian officials discussed the details of a potential peace framework this month in Geneva. Earlier, Trump tried to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept a proposal that would have given Russia more Ukrainian land beyond what it currently controlled.

Trump told reporters Sunday aboard Air Force One that he spoke with Rubio and Witkoff after the meeting, saying, "They're doing well."

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"Ukraine’s got some difficult little problems," he said, adding that he believed both countries wanted the war to end. He clarified to a reporter that the "problems" was a reference to a corruption scandal.

Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, a top negotiator in peace talks, resigned Friday following an anti-corruption raid on his home.

Zelenskyy said on X after the meeting that Umerov reported information from Sunday's talks, but he did not disclose details.

"It is important that the talks have a constructive dynamic and that all issues were discussed openly and with a clear focus on ensuring Ukraine’s sovereignty and national interests," he said, going on to thank Trump and the administration.

Ukraine has pushed for any agreement to end the war to include future security guarantees, while Moscow has pushed for Ukrainian land to be ceded to Russia and called for Ukraine not to be allowed to join NATO.

Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow in the coming days. Zelenskyy is expected to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, according to France 24. Trump also said on Truth Social last week that Army Secretary Dan Driscoll would meet with Ukrainians while Witkoff would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine started in 2022 and has dragged on despite the Trump administration's efforts, which have included a controversial red carpet welcome for Putin in Alaska over the summer.