Miami, US, Nov 30 (EFE). – United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday that the meeting in Florida with Ukrainian representatives was «productive,» but acknowledged “there’s more work to be done» to reach a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
The secretary of state said, «There are a lot of moving parts, and obviously there’s another party involved here that will have to be a part of the equation,» referring to Russia.
In this regard, he recalled that the government’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, will travel to Moscow next week, adding that the US has “also been in touch in varying degrees with the Russian side, but we have a pretty good understanding of their views as well.»
He also expressed optimism about the possibility of reaching a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
The US delegation at the meeting was led by Rubio, Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, son-in-law and advisor to President Donald Trump.
Ukraine was represented by the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umérov, accompanied by the first deputy foreign minister, Sergiy Kyslytsya, and other Ukrainian diplomats and politicians.
Umérov told reporters that «all issues that are important to Ukraine and Ukrainians» were discussed at the meeting and assured that the United States was «very understanding.»
Before the meeting began, Umérov wrote on X that his delegation had «clear directives and priorities: safeguarding Ukrainian interests, ensuring substantive dialogue, and advancing on the basis of the progress achieved in Geneva.»
The visit by the delegation led by Umérov comes as Kyiv hopes to arrange a meeting between Zelenskyy and President Trump.
Trump had given Ukraine until Thursday to accept the peace plan initially negotiated between Washington and Moscow and subsequently discussed with Kyiv.
This agreement, which the US presented to Zelenskyy last week, would force Ukraine to reduce its army and cede territory to Russia, including areas that have not been conquered militarily.
Following weekend negotiations in Geneva between the United States and Ukraine, a new 19-point agreement proposal emerged, more favorable to Kyiv and its European partners. EFE
asg-int/mcd
