Miami, Dec. 21, 2025 – Negotiators from Russia and the United States have met in Miami as part of ongoing efforts to end the war in Ukraine, with Kyiv urging Washington to increase pressure on Moscow to reach a resolution.
The Saturday meeting brought together Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the latter also being former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
Constructive Discussions
Dmitriev described the talks as “constructive” and confirmed that discussions would continue on Sunday.
“The discussions are proceeding constructively. They began earlier and will continue today, and will also continue tomorrow,” Dmitriev told reporters.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated he may also join the Miami talks. Rubio said that while progress has been made, significant differences remain.
“The role we’re trying to play is figuring out whether there’s any overlap here that they can agree to… That may not be possible. I hope it is. I hope it can get done this month, before the end of the year,” Rubio said.
US-Led Peace Efforts
Trump’s envoys have been negotiating a 20-point peace plan with Russian, Ukrainian, and European officials over the past weeks.
While US officials report some progress, key sticking points remain, including territorial disputes and security guarantees that Kyiv considers essential for any agreement. Russia has shown limited willingness to compromise on its territorial ambitions in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy Calls for Greater Pressure
In Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized support for the US-led negotiations but stressed that diplomacy alone is not enough.
“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,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian leader also mentioned a new proposed format for trilateral talks involving national security advisers from Ukraine, Russia, and the US. He expressed cautious support if such talks could achieve tangible results, such as prisoner swaps or a meeting of national leaders.
The last direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian envoys took place in July in Istanbul, leading mainly to prisoner exchanges.
Ongoing Russian Attacks
The Miami discussions come amid continued Russian military offensives in Ukraine. Russian President Putin praised Moscow’s battlefield gains in an annual press conference on Friday but suggested a potential pause in strikes to allow a Ukrainian presidential vote—a proposal Zelenskyy rejected.
Meanwhile, an overnight Russian ballistic missile strike on Odesa killed eight civilians and injured 30, targeting port infrastructure. Russian attacks have disrupted bridges, electricity, and heating in multiple regions, compounding humanitarian challenges in winter.
Ukraine’s military claimed to have destroyed two Russian fighter jets in Crimea and struck a Russian oil rig and patrol ship in the Caspian Sea on Saturday.
War Context
Russia calls its invasion a “special military operation” aimed at demilitarizing Ukraine and preventing NATO expansion. Kyiv and its European allies describe it as an illegal land grab, marking the deadliest European conflict since World War II.
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