Russia says talks on U.S. peace plan for Ukraine proceed constructively in Florida as Zelenskiy says talks moving quickly
Trump administration diplomacy continues amid ongoing strikes and divergent demands from Kyiv and Moscow; EU pledges billions in support while civilians are displaced
Russia said talks on a U.S.-proposed peace plan for Ukraine were proceeding constructively in Florida, even as a week of Russian strikes underscored the fragility of the diplomacy. Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev told reporters in Miami that discussions began earlier and would continue on Saturday and Sunday, in what he framed as a steady, if delicate, process. Dmitriev did not disclose concrete concessions, but he emphasized that the talks were moving forward under the umbrella of Washington’s push to end the war that began nearly four years ago.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Telegram that diplomatic efforts were moving quickly, and his team in Florida had been coordinating with the American side as part of a broader push that also included earlier meetings with Ukrainian and European counterparts in Berlin. The Trump administration has elevated diplomacy in an effort to marshal opposing sides toward a framework, though Kyiv and Moscow have set sharply different terms. Dmitriev and U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, along with Jared Kushner, reportedly participated in the Florida sessions, according to Russian state media.
The talks form part of a months-long, U.S.-led diplomatic initiative that has sought to translate Washington’s peace proposal into a formal process while Washington attempts to reconcile Kyiv’s insistence on sovereignty and security guarantees with Moscow’s demands. In Berlin earlier in the week, Ukrainian and European officials held meetings with American counterparts as part of the same effort, illustrating how the diplomacy is unfolding on multiple fronts rather than in a single venue. Analysts caution that the path to a durable settlement remains uncertain while military fighting and political ultimatums continue to shape the dialogue.
As Moscow presses its position, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signaled that Moscow plans to hold to its maximalist terms if Kyiv does not accept the conditions tied to the peace talks. Putin’s envoy and other Kremlin officials have asserted their confidence that the Kremlin will achieve its military goals even as battlefield setbacks have punctuated the past weeks. The dynamic underscores the tension betweenTrump’s diplomatic push and the realities on the ground in Ukraine, where both sides have cited battlefield momentum as they frame the negotiations.
In a parallel track, Paris signaled openness to dialogue with Moscow. French President Emmanuel Macron’s office said a potential discussion with Putin would be considered in the coming days if there is mutual political will, stressing that any dialogue should serve the aim of a solid and lasting peace for Ukraine and Europe, with full transparency to Zelenskyy and European partners. The French stance arrives as Europe weighs its next steps in the war’s broader political and economic implications.
European Union leaders on Friday agreed to provide about 90 billion euros ($106 billion) to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs over the next two years, a package the bloc financed by borrowing on capital markets after Belgium’s holdover differences blocked a plan to use frozen Russian assets. The decision reflects the bloc’s willingness to sustain support for Ukraine while contending with the complexities of sanctions, asset freezes, and the broader energy and security implications of the war.
In Ukraine, the country’s human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, accused Russian forces of forcibly relocating about 50 Ukrainian civilians from the Sumy border region to Russian territory. Lubinets said the residents were detained in the village of Hrabovske and transported to Russia over the weekend. He said he had contacted Russia’s human rights commissioner to locate the civilians and demanded their immediate return to Ukraine. The allegation adds to a broader picture of humanitarian concerns that persist alongside ongoing combat operations.
As the diplomatic process unfolds, Ukrainians continue to endure the war’s human toll. In Kyiv, a funeral procession for a serviceman killed on the front line underscored the personal costs of the conflict, while humanitarian and security concerns remain at the center of international discussions about how to structure and finance support for Ukraine. With the conflict entering its fifth year, the international community remains divided over how to balance diplomacy, security guarantees, and military aid as negotiations proceed in Florida and other capitals.
The path to a lasting settlement remains uncertain. While Washington’s plan has spurred renewed talks, Moscow’s demands and Kyiv’s red lines create a challenging framework for any potential agreement. Washington and its allies say progress is possible if all parties show political will, but observers caution that ceasefire prospects will depend on a combination of diplomatic concessions, battlefield realities, and the willingness of leadership in Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow to make hard choices under intense international scrutiny.
