Ukraine says first day of Florida talks with U.S. focused on next negotiation steps

According to Umerov, Ukraine was represented by Davyd Arakhamia, Kyrylo Budanov, and Serhii Kyslytsia alongside him. The U.S. delegation included White House special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law. Reuters reported that Ukrainian and U.S. negotiators opened a new round of talks in Florida on March 21 and planned to continue discussions through the weekend. 

“We continued discussing key issues and the next steps within the negotiation track,” Umerov said. “Particular attention was paid to aligning approaches for further progress toward practical results.” He added that the Ukrainian delegation had briefed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the outcome of the first day of talks.

Umerov thanked the United States for its involvement and “consistent work to advance the process,” adding that negotiations would continue on March 22. Reuters also reported that the White House described the meeting as “constructive” and said the talks were aimed at narrowing remaining differences in pursuit of a broader peace agreement. 

Earlier, Zelenskyy said the meeting between the Ukrainian delegation and Trump representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Miami had already taken place.

“It is important for all of us in the world that diplomacy continues and that we are trying to end this war — Russia’s war against Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. “No one needs this war.” He stressed that the central question remains whether Russia is genuinely prepared to move toward ending the war. Reuters reported that no Russian representatives were present at the Florida meeting. 

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on March 20 that no Russian delegation would attend the meeting. He also said trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States were currently on pause.

A new round of talks in the Ukraine-Russia-U.S. format had been scheduled for March 5-9 in Abu Dhabi, but those plans changed after the joint U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran began on Feb. 28, shifting Washington’s immediate diplomatic focus. Reuters reported that the Miami talks had initially been expected to include Russian negotiators and take place in Abu Dhabi. 

Zelenskyy said on March 10 that the next trilateral meeting had been expected in Türkiye, but the United States proposed postponing it for a week because of the war in the Middle East. He later said Washington suggested holding the meeting in the United States instead, but Russia refused.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said on March 18 that the negotiating teams remain in daily contact, but meaningful progress requires in-person meetings, which have already been postponed several times.