Ukrainian and U.S. officials met in Miami to discuss a freeze of hostilities while Russia seeks to strengthen ties with the United States, according to Kremlin officials.
Ukraine Opposes “Unequal Compromises”
The negotiations in Miami began on Friday, with American officials meeting Ukrainian counterparts. Following the talks, President Zelensky told reporters Kyiv would not accept unequal territorial compromises.
Zelensky clarified on Saturday that if a military freeze and buffer zone were to be established, both sides should stop advancing along the front line and withdraw an equal number of kilometres, stressing that Ukraine cannot pull back troops while Russia occupies the area without a problem.
Russia Rejects Tripartite Talks
On Saturday evening, Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev arrived in Florida and spoke at a golf club with Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff.
Kremlin adviser Yuri Usakow described the discussions as constructive but said a tripartite meeting is neither being prepared nor part of the current Russian‑American talks. He added that European and Ukrainian proposals do not increase the chances of lasting peace.
Easing Russia‑U.S. Relations
Modern Diplomacy reports that the United States is taking steps to improve trade relations with Russia. Moscow, in turn, is working to return Russian diplomats to Washington and New York.
U.S. firms have lost over $300 billion due to the war in Ukraine, while Russia has had to restore about 1,500 diplomats. Discussions in Florida also cover restoring direct flight connections and promoting business cooperation under the guidance of diplomat Kirill Dmitriev, who received an award from the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia for leading US‑Russia dialogue.
Russian Attacks on Ukraine: 1,300 Drones, 1,200 Bombs
In the past week, Russia launched more than 1,300 assault drones, almost 1,200 air bombs, and various missiles against Ukrainian cities. Zelensky’s social‑media post highlighted that the Odesa region was heavily affected.
He also summarized diplomatic efforts, noting that this week a decisive decision was made regarding a financial security guarantee for Ukraine. The European Council awarded 90 billion euros, and U.S. and Ukrainian negotiation teams seek a dignified peace. Sanctions against Russia are delivering expected results, according to Zelensky.
