Ukrainian and US negotiators making an attempt to maneuver in direction of a settlement of the four-year battle pitting Kyiv towards Moscow opened their newest spherical of talks in Florida on Saturday (Mar 21), with extra discussions deliberate by means of the weekend.
Russian representatives weren’t current on the assembly.
“We continued discussing key points and the following steps throughout the negotiation observe,” chief Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov wrote on social media platform X.
“Specific consideration was paid to aligning approaches for additional progress towards sensible outcomes.”
Russian and Ukrainian negotiators met at two units of US-brokered talks within the United Arab Emirates this yr and a spherical in Geneva final month. Moscow and Kyiv agreed on prisoner exchanges, however no breakthroughs have been achieved.
The White Home described the most recent assembly as “constructive”, with discussions “centered on narrowing and resolving remaining gadgets to maneuver nearer to a complete peace settlement”.
Umerov, a senior Ukrainian safety official, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated there can be additional talks on Sunday.
The US negotiating crew is led by particular envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who’s President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
Witkoff, commenting on the talks on X, stated the US aspect welcomed “the continued engagement towards resolving the excellent points, recognising its significance to broader world stability”.
He thanked Trump “for his continued management in advancing the efforts.” Umerov thanked the US “for constant work” in pursuing the talks.
Zelenskyy, talking earlier in his nightly video handle, stated pursuing the talks was vital to clinching a deal.
“It will be important for all of us on this planet that diplomacy continues and that we try to finish this battle … Nobody desires this battle,” he stated.
“A very powerful factor is to know how prepared the Russian aspect is to maneuver towards an actual finish to the battle and whether or not they’re ready to take action truthfully and decently,” Zelenskyy added.
The Ukrainian president advised reporters on Friday the US and Ukrainian working teams would give attention to bilateral paperwork and talk about a wide-ranging drone deal.
