U.S. Envoy Meets Ukrainian Security Chief in Miami After Unproductive Moscow Talks
Updated (2 articles)
Miami Session Set for Thursday Between Steve Witkoff and Rustem Umerov On Thursday, Dec 4 2025, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff will hold high‑level talks with Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s National Security Council, in Miami, a White House announcement confirmed by both BBC and CNN [1][2]. The meeting follows a five‑hour Moscow session earlier that week and is intended to advance negotiations on Ukraine’s security and peace framework. Both outlets note that the Miami talks are the next step after the stalled Russian‑U.S. dialogue.
Moscow Talks Produced No Compromise on Key Battlefield Issues During the Tuesday session in Moscow, President Vladimir Putin and Witkoff discussed ending the war but Kremlin officials reported no agreement on troop withdrawals or territorial control [1]. Putin publicly demanded that Ukrainian forces leave the Donbas region or face forced liberation, framing the choice as binary. Ukrainian officials described the progress as limited, emphasizing that substantial gaps remain [1].
U.S. Leaders Voice Optimism While Highlighting Fragility President Donald Trump called the Moscow negotiations “reasonably good” and later said the Miami meeting was “going along well,” suggesting a good chance of a deal [1][2]. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the Miami session as “delicate, complicated,” stressing that any settlement must involve Russia’s central role and that U.S. diplomatic pressure will intensify [2]. Witkoff is scheduled to return to Moscow on Monday for a follow‑up meeting with Putin, underscoring the ongoing shuttle‑diplomacy [2].
Ukrainian Officials Call Talks Constructive but Insist on Current Frontlines President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the Miami talks as “very constructive,” urging continued pressure on Russia and announcing a follow‑up meeting in Paris on Monday [2]. Umerov described the Ukrainian delegation’s performance as “productive and successful,” building on earlier Geneva discussions [2]. Kyiv maintains that any ceasefire must be based on existing frontlines and rejects ceding any territory not already occupied by Russian forces [2].
Sources
-
1.
BBC: US and Ukraine Negotiators to Meet in Miami After Moscow Talks: Details the Thursday Miami meeting, outlines the unproductive Moscow session, includes Putin’s Donbas demand, and reports Ukrainian officials’ limited‑progress assessment .
-
2.
CNN: Trump Optimistic About Ending Ukraine War After Miami Talks: Highlights Trump’s optimism, Rubio’s caution about fragility, Witkoff’s upcoming Moscow visit, Umerov’s positive view, Zelensky’s constructive appraisal, and Ukraine’s ceasefire conditions .
Timeline
Early 2025 – Steve Witkoff helps draft a 28‑point blueprint that later underpins U.S.‑Ukraine peace proposals, providing a concrete framework for negotiations [2].
Early 2025 – Ukrainian officials participate in Geneva talks that produce a preliminary framework, which the Miami delegation later builds on [2].
Nov 30, 2025 – President Donald Trump tells reporters aboard Air Force One that the high‑level Miami talks are “going along well” and that there is a “good chance” of a deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine [2].
Dec 1, 2025 – Secretary of State Marco Rubio calls the Miami session “delicate, complicated,” says Russia will play a central role in any agreement, and pledges intensified U.S. diplomatic efforts that week [2].
Dec 1, 2025 – Special Envoy Steve Witkoff departs for Moscow to meet President Vladimir Putin the next day, continuing the negotiation track after Miami [2].
Dec 1, 2025 – President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking from Paris, describes the Miami talks as “very constructive” and schedules a follow‑up meeting in Paris on Monday to discuss outcomes [2].
Dec 2, 2025 – In Moscow, President Putin and Steve Witkoff hold a five‑hour session on ending the war; Kremlin officials say no compromise is reached on troop withdrawals or territorial control [1].
Dec 2, 2025 – Putin tells India Today that Ukraine must either withdraw from Donbas or Russian forces will “liberate” the region by force, framing the issue as a binary choice [1].
Dec 2, 2025 – President Trump, at a press briefing after the Moscow talks, calls the negotiations “reasonably good” but warns “it does take two to tango” before any outcome can be predicted [1].
Dec 3, 2025 – Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybhia condemns Putin for “wasting the world’s time,” while Ambassador Olga Stefanishyna says the talks have made “not too much progress” but remain ongoing [1].
Dec 3, 2025 – President Zelensky, in a televised address, says the world sees a real opportunity to end the war but stresses that negotiations must be backed by pressure on Russia to achieve a durable settlement [1].
Dec 4, 2025 – U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff meets Ukrainian National Security Council head Rustem Umerov in Miami to continue negotiations on Ukraine’s security and peace terms following the Moscow session [1].
Dec 4, 2025 – Ukraine reiterates its demand that any ceasefire respect current front lines and refuses to cede any territory not already occupied, while Russia maintains it will end the war only if Ukrainian troops withdraw from occupied areas [2].