A high-level Ukrainian delegation has arrived in Miami, Florida, for crucial peace negotiations with representatives of the Trump administration, aiming to find a resolution to the four-year conflict with Russia. The talks, scheduled for this weekend, will center on security assurances and postwar reconstruction efforts.
Leading the Ukrainian contingent is Kyrylo Budanov, recently appointed Chief of Staff to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The delegation includes Security Chief Rustem Umerov and lead negotiator David Arakhamia. They are set to meet with key US figures including Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll.
The negotiations occur against a backdrop of severe humanitarian challenges in Ukraine. President Zelensky reported that approximately 400,000 residents in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, are experiencing significant electricity shortages following nighttime Russian strikes. Additionally, 56,000 families in the Bucha region near Kyiv remain without power, prompting authorities to extend school closures until next month due to health concerns.
Ukraine’s Energy Ministry has declared a state of emergency across the nation’s energy sector, implementing power restrictions in most regions due to sustained infrastructure attacks. Zelensky has ordered the accelerated import of electricity and additional power equipment to address the crisis.
The peace process faces significant challenges as President Trump has expressed frustration with both conflict parties and has advocated for peace terms that Kyiv considers tantamount to surrender. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported continued territorial advances, claiming control of five populated settlements in the past week, including two additional locations in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions captured on Saturday.
Zelensky emphasized the importance of providing accurate information about Ukraine’s current situation, noting that the ongoing attacks have undermined public faith in diplomatic solutions. The Miami talks represent a critical effort to bridge differences between Washington and Kyiv on security guarantees, with Zelensky hoping to finalize relevant documents with the US next week.