President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed on Saturday that the United States had suggested the first direct, in-person negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in about six months, as diplomatic activity intensified in Miami around efforts to end the war.
Speaking in Kyiv, Zelensky explained that Washington had proposed a new format involving Ukraine, the United States and Russia, with the possible participation of European representatives. He described it as reasonable that Europe should be part of such a meeting, given its stake in the conflict.
Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev confirmed he was travelling to Miami, where Ukrainian and European delegations had also gathered. The talks are being mediated by US special envoy Steve Witkoff alongside President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
According to Zelensky, the initiative reflects Washington’s growing role in trying to bring the war to a close. He stressed that the United States remains the only actor capable of compelling Moscow to change course and called for tougher pressure on Russia to force meaningful concessions.
“America must clearly say: if not diplomacy, then there will be full pressure… Putin does not yet feel the kind of pressure that should exist,” Zelensky said, underlining the need for increased weapons supplies to Ukraine and broader sanctions targeting the Russian economy.
The renewed push for talks comes as Trump’s envoys advance a framework under which the United States would offer security guarantees to Kyiv. However, Ukraine could be expected to relinquish some territory as part of a deal, a prospect that has angered many Ukrainians and remains politically sensitive.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to reassure Kyiv on Friday, saying Washington would not impose an agreement. “There’s no peace deal unless Ukraine agrees to it,” Rubio said, adding that he might join the Miami discussions.
Dmitriev signalled optimism ahead of the talks, posting on X that he was “on the way to Miami”, accompanied by a peace dove emoji and a short video showing sunlight breaking through clouds over a palm-lined beach.
The last official face-to-face meeting between Ukrainian and Russian envoys took place in July in Istanbul. While that round produced prisoner exchanges, it failed to generate broader progress toward ending the war.
This time, the presence of both Russian and European representatives marks a shift from earlier efforts, when American officials held separate talks with each side in different locations. Even so, expectations remain limited, as Dmitriev is unlikely to engage directly with European negotiators due to deeply strained relations.
Moscow has repeatedly argued that European involvement complicates negotiations, insisting that their participation undermines prospects for a settlement.
Russia Presses On
The diplomatic manoeuvring comes against the backdrop of continued fighting. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Moscow would maintain its military offensive, praising recent battlefield gains nearly four years after launching the invasion.
On Saturday, Russia announced the capture of two villages in Ukraine’s Sumy and Donetsk regions, continuing its slow but costly advance in the east. Putin also suggested that Russia might pause strikes to allow Ukraine to hold a presidential election, a proposal Zelensky firmly rejected.
“It is not Putin who decides when and in what format the elections in Ukraine will take place,” Zelensky said, ruling out any vote in territories under Russian occupation.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian toll continued to rise. Authorities in Ukraine’s Black Sea region of Odesa said the death toll from an overnight Russian ballistic missile strike on port infrastructure had climbed to eight, with nearly three dozen people injured.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said a civilian bus was hit in the attack, noting that the victims “were ordinary Ukrainians”. Recent weeks have seen intensified Russian strikes along the coastline, damaging bridges and cutting electricity and heating to hundreds of thousands amid freezing conditions.
Moscow has said it plans to expand attacks on Ukrainian ports in retaliation for strikes on its oil tankers used to evade sanctions.
Ukraine, for its part, claimed several military successes on Saturday. The SBU security service said two Russian fighter jets were destroyed at an airfield in occupied Crimea, while Ukraine’s army reported strikes on a Russian oil rig in the Caspian Sea and a nearby patrol vessel.
Putin continues to describe the invasion, launched in February 2022, as a “special military operation” aimed at demilitarising Ukraine and blocking NATO expansion. Kyiv and its European allies reject this narrative, calling the war an unprovoked and illegal land grab that has unleashed widespread destruction and loss of life across Europe.
What you should know
The United States has proposed renewed face-to-face peace talks involving Ukraine and Russia, with discussions centred in Miami.
President Zelensky sees Washington as the key power capable of pressuring Moscow to end the war and is urging stronger sanctions and military support. While US officials insist no deal will be forced on Kyiv, proposed frameworks could involve territorial concessions, which remain deeply controversial.
The talks are unfolding amid continued Russian military advances and deadly strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, highlighting the sharp contrast between diplomatic efforts and realities on the battlefield.
