Florida, Dec 01 (V7N) – Senior U.S. officials, including Senators Marco Rubio, Steve Whitlock, and White House advisor Jared Kushner, met with Ukrainian representatives in Florida to finalize a proposed framework for ending the ongoing war with Russia. The discussions are seen as crucial for Kyiv, which continues to face intense military and political pressure.
 
Ahead of the Sunday, November 30, meeting, Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, shared photos of the session via social media, emphasizing that the talks aim to make progress toward a just and sustainable peace.
 
According to the Guardian, the Florida discussions largely focus on revising President Donald Trump’s 28-point draft plan, which had previously been criticized for favoring Russian demands. The revised U.S. draft aims to address these concerns, though exact details have not been publicly disclosed. The original draft included controversial proposals such as ceding the Donbas region to Russia, limiting the size of Ukraine’s armed forces, and restricting its NATO membership—measures strongly opposed by Ukraine and European allies.
 
At the start of the talks, U.S. Secretary of Defense Marco Rubio reassured the Ukrainian delegation, stating that any resolution must safeguard Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and future prosperity, not merely bring an end to the conflict.
 
The urgency of the negotiations comes amid continued violence. On Saturday, November 29, at least six people were killed and many others injured in the latest Russian attacks across Ukraine. A drone strike on the outskirts of Kyiv claimed one life, while Ukraine claimed responsibility for attacks on two Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea.
 
The war, now entering its fourth year, has created internal instability within Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief aide Andriy Yermak resigned amid corruption allegations, while Ukrainian infrastructure faces severe challenges, including widespread electricity disruptions as winter begins. Despite these hardships, Zelensky reaffirmed his commitment to Ukraine, vowing never to betray the country.
 
Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom and former military chief, warned that rushing a peace agreement could threaten Ukraine’s independence. He stressed that any effective accord must include robust security guarantees.
 
In parallel, French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to meet with President Zelensky in Paris on Monday, December 1. France’s foreign ministry has indicated that peace is achievable if Russian President Vladimir Putin abandons territorial ambitions in Ukraine.
 
The Florida meeting represents a critical step in international diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the conflict while maintaining Ukraine’s territorial integrity and ensuring long-term regional stability.
 
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