WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — High-level diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine-Russia conflict entered a critical phase this weekend as top Trump administration officials convened with Ukrainian negotiators in Florida. The meetings, aimed at finalizing a peace framework, precede scheduled negotiations in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner—President Donald Trump’s son-in-law—met with a reconstituted Ukrainian delegation following the sudden resignation of Ukraine’s chief negotiator. The discussions focused on refining a proposed 28-point peace plan that has undergone significant revisions since its initial formulation.
The diplomatic push coincides with renewed military aggression, as Russian drone and missile strikes killed at least three people in Kyiv on Saturday, highlighting the urgent need for diplomatic progress.
Ukraine’s negotiating team now includes Armed Forces commander Andrii Hnatov, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Security Council head Rustem Umerov. This restructuring follows President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s dismissal of powerful chief of staff Andrii Yermak, whose home was recently searched by anti-corruption investigators. The move comes amid a $100 million energy sector embezzlement scandal that has increased domestic pressure on Zelenskyy’s administration.
The peace framework under discussion has evolved substantially from its original version, which faced criticism for disproportionately favoring Russian interests. Initial provisions requiring Ukraine to cede the Donbas region, accept military capacity limitations, and forfeit NATO membership prospects have been subject to renegotiation. President Trump has characterized the document as a “concept” requiring refinement rather than a finalized agreement.
Both Witkoff and Kushner bring their real estate negotiation backgrounds to the diplomatic process, having previously facilitated a ceasefire in Gaza through a 20-point proposal. Their planned Moscow visit this week represents the next phase in these intensified peace efforts.