Efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war have once again intensified. Top officials of the Donald Trump administration met with Ukrainian officials in Florida on Sunday, where key points of a proposed peace framework were discussed. Meanwhile, Trump has indicated that he is sending his delegation to Moscow this week, where important talks are scheduled with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner met with the Ukrainian peacekeeping force. This meeting has taken place at a time when Ukraine is battling the Russian army on the one hand and is surrounded by a major domestic corruption controversy on the other.
Rubio assured Ukraine that our goal is not just to end the war, but to ensure the security of Ukraine’s sovereignty and its future. Ukraine’s Security Council chief Rustam Umerov thanked US support and said America is listening to us, standing with us and cooperating in restoring peace.
Ukraine’s negotiator changed amid corruption controversy
A few days ago, President Volodymyr Zelensky accepted the resignation of his powerful chief of staff Andriy Yermak. This major step was taken after investigating the embezzlement scam of $100 million in the energy sector. Rubio last met with Yermak just a week ago in Geneva, where the two sides agreed to a revised draft of the peace plan.
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Increased commotion before Trump-Putin talks
Trump has indicated he will send envoys Steve Witkoff and possibly Jared Kushner to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, Russian Presidential Palace spokesman Dmitry Peskov also confirmed that Putin will meet the US delegation before Thursday. Trump’s peace plan included many controversial points. Such as the proposal to impose a limit on the size of Ukraine’s army, a ban on NATO membership, the condition of holding elections within 100 days and the suggestion of handing over the eastern Donbass region to Russia in the initial proposal, which has now been revised. However, Trump is now calling this entire plan only a ‘concept’ or ‘blueprint’, which makes it clear that many aspects are still to be decided regarding its final form.
War has not stopped, attacks continue
Amidst the turmoil in peace talks in Ukraine, Russia has increased the intensity of missile and drone attacks in Kiev and its surrounding areas. Three people were killed and dozens were injured in the attacks on Saturday. At the same time, one person was killed and 19 people were injured in a drone attack on a residential building in Vyshhorod early on Sunday, including children. According to officials, Russia has fired 122 drones and several ballistic missiles in the recent attacks. President Volodymyr Zelensky, citing the number of attacks, said that in just one week Russia fired 1,400 drones and 66 missiles. We need stronger air defenses and real solutions that can help end war.
