High-Stakes Diplomacy in Florida as US Pushes Ukraine Peace Framework
Senior Trump administration officials convened with Ukrainian negotiators in West Palm Beach, Florida this weekend in a crucial diplomatic push to end Russia's war in Ukraine. The high-level meetings set the stage for anticipated talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner—President Donald Trump's son-in-law—were scheduled to meet with Ukrainian delegates to refine details of a proposed peace framework. These discussions occur at a particularly sensitive moment for Ukraine as its military continues defending against Russian forces that invaded in 2022.
Ukrainian Political Shakeup Amid Corruption Investigation
The Florida negotiations followed significant political turmoil in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the resignation of his powerful chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, who had previously served as Ukraine's lead negotiator in talks with the United States.
This development came after anti-corruption investigators searched Yermak's residence. Zelenskyy's government faces mounting domestic pressure following a scandal involving $100 million embezzled from Ukraine's energy sector through contractor kickbacks.
The timing is notable since Rubio had met with Yermak in Geneva just one week earlier, with both sides describing those discussions as productive in developing a revised peace plan.
Zelenskyy has appointed a new negotiating team including Andrii Hnatov (head of Ukraine's armed forces), Andrii Sybiha (Ukraine's foreign minister), and Rustem Umerov (head of Ukraine's security council).
Controversial Peace Plan Undergoing Revisions
Diplomats have been working on modifications to Trump's proposed 28-point peace framework originally developed through Washington-Moscow negotiations. The initial plan faced criticism for appearing too favorable to Russian interests.
The controversial proposal initially required Ukraine to cede the entire eastern Donbas region to Russia—a major point of contention for Kyiv. Other provisions included limiting Ukraine's military size, blocking NATO membership, and mandating elections within 100 days.
President Trump has since characterized the plan as a "concept" or "map" requiring "fine-tuning." Negotiators indicate the framework has evolved, though specific changes remain unclear.
Trump confirmed on Tuesday that he would dispatch Witkoff and potentially Kushner to Moscow this week to discuss the plan with Putin. Both envoys bring real estate backgrounds that prioritize dealmaking over traditional diplomatic approaches, having previously brokered the 20-point proposal that led to a Gaza ceasefire.
Ongoing Violence Despite Diplomatic Efforts
While diplomatic efforts intensify, military attacks continue unabated. On Saturday, Russian drone and missile strikes in and around Kyiv killed at least three people and wounded dozens more. Overnight attacks into Sunday claimed one additional life and injured 19 people, including four children, when a drone struck a nine-story apartment building in Vyshhorod, Kyiv region.
In a Telegram post on Sunday, Zelenskyy reported that Russia had launched 122 strike drones and ballistic missiles against Ukraine. "This week alone, Russians have used nearly 1,400 strike drones, 1,100 guided aerial bombs and 66 missiles against our people," the Ukrainian president stated.
Zelenskyy emphasized the urgent need for enhanced air defense systems while pursuing diplomatic solutions, asserting, "We need real, reliable solutions that will help end the war."
The diplomatic efforts face additional complications after Ukraine claimed responsibility for damaging a major oil terminal near the Russian port of Novorossiysk. Kazakhstan, whose oil exports flow through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal, demanded Ukraine cease attacks on the facility, calling the incident harmful to bilateral relations.
Despite these challenges, Zelenskyy struck an optimistic tone in his nightly address, noting the American side was "demonstrating a constructive approach" and suggesting that "in the coming days it is feasible to flesh out the steps to determine how to bring the war to a dignified end."
