Ukraine and the US: A New Chapter in Peace Talks

In a sunny spot near Miami, Florida, a significant gathering took place. This was not a typical meetup, but a crucial discussion between the US and Ukraine. The main goal? To find a way to stop the ongoing war in Ukraine. Leading the Ukrainian team was Rustem Umerov, a new face in the negotiation scene. He stepped in after Andriy Yermak, the previous leader, stepped down due to a corruption issue back home. Umerov expressed gratitude towards the US, acknowledging their support and partnership. On the US side, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law, were present. The talks happened at a private club called Shell Bay, which is part of Witkoff's real estate ventures. Before the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had high hopes. He believed that the outcomes from previous talks in Geneva would be finalized. In Geneva, Ukraine had presented a counter-proposal to a plan that US Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll had shared with leaders in Kyiv a couple of weeks prior. Sergiy Kyslytsya, Kyiv's first deputy foreign minister, who was also part of the delegation, shared a thought-provoking analogy. He compared the complexity of these talks to predicting the weather, where small changes can lead to big outcomes. The talks were expected to yield more progress, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He emphasized that the discussions were not just about peace deals, but about creating a path forward that ensures Ukraine remains sovereign, independent, and prosperous.