Ukraine, US to meet for third day, agree ‘real progress’ depends on Russia
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Russian President Vladimir Putin (third from right) and Mr Steve Witkoff (second from left) had achieved a level of understanding that made their discussions “truly friendly”.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON - Ukrainian and US officials will hold a third straight day of talks in Miami on Dec 6, with Washington saying the two sides agreed that “real progress” would depend on Russia’s willingness to end the war.
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner have been meeting top Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov and chief of staff of Kyiv’s armed forces Andrii Hnatov.
The talks come after Mr Witkoff and Mr Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Dec 2 to discuss a US plan to end the conflict, but Moscow rejected parts of the proposal.
“Both parties agreed that real progress towards any agreement depends on Russia’s readiness to show serious commitment to long-term peace, including steps towards de-escalation and cessation of killings,” said a readout of the Miami talks posted on social media platform X by Mr Witkoff on Dec 5.
The US and Ukrainian officials “also agreed on the framework of security arrangements and discussed necessary deterrence capabilities to sustain a lasting peace”.
Washington’s plan involves Ukraine surrendering land that Russia has not been able to win on the battlefield in return for security promises that fall short of Kyiv’s aspirations to join NATO.
But the nature of the security guarantees that Ukraine could get have so far been shrouded in uncertainty, beyond an initial plan saying that jets to defend Kyiv could be based in Poland.
The US plan has been through several drafts since it first emerged in late November, amid initial criticisms that it was too soft on Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Mr Witkoff, Mr Trump’s former business partner turned roving global ambassador, and investor Kushner had hoped to persuade Mr Putin to play ball, but came away from Moscow without a deal.
‘Genuinely friendly’
Still, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the five-hour late-night Moscow meeting on Dec 2 was cordial, and he praised Mr Kushner joining the talks, which have been going on since spring.
Mr Putin and Mr Witkoff “had a genuinely friendly conversation and they understand each other perfectly”, Mr Ushakov said on Russian state TV on Dec 5.
“A new person has joined us, and I would say that he has turned out to be very useful,” he said of Mr Kushner.
On the Ukrainian side, Mr Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, wrote on social media on Dec 5 that “the diplomatic process takes place mostly behind the scenes”.
“Ukraine seeks to end the war and is ready for talks,” Mr Podolyak said, adding: “The United States wants a pragmatic process and a quick end to the war, expecting compromises from both sides.”
Mr Trump said on Dec 3 that the envoys had a “reasonably good meeting” with Mr Putin, insisting that they had the “strong impression” that he would like to end the war.
Mr Trump has blown hot and cold on Ukraine since returning to office in January, initially embracing Mr Putin and chastising Mr Zelensky for not being grateful for US support.
But he has also grown frustrated that his efforts to persuade Mr Putin to end the war, including a summit in Alaska, have failed to produce results, and recently imposed sanctions on Russian oil firms.
Mr Putin, who was in India this week meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said the talks were “complex”, but that he wanted to engage with Mr Trump’s plan “rather than obstruct it”. AFP
