Ukraine's Chief Negotiator Heads to Miami for Key US Peace Talks

(MENAFN) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that Kyiv's chief negotiator is heading to Miami, Florida for high-stakes talks with American envoys Thursday, as Ukraine pursues a three-pronged diplomatic agenda spanning prisoner exchanges, peace process revival, and bilateral security cooperation.

Zelenskyy announced the development via a post on the US social media platform X, stating he had been briefed by National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov on the forthcoming negotiations and that the two had defined "key tasks" ahead of the engagement.

The first priority centers on what Zelenskyy described as the "humanitarian track" — specifically, Ukraine's push to advance new prisoner exchange arrangements with Russia.

On the broader diplomatic front, Zelenskyy signalled that Kyiv remains closely plugged into ongoing back-channel activity between Washington and Moscow.

"Second, the reinvigoration of the diplomatic process. We are in constant communication with the American side and know about the relevant contacts of our partners with the Russian side," Zelenskyy said.

He framed Ukraine's overarching objective in the talks as ensuring the process advances toward an honourable settlement with credible security guarantees, while simultaneously taking aim at Moscow's conduct since Kyiv's unilateral ceasefire came into force at midnight Tuesday.

The Ukrainian side, he said, is working to ensure that this helps bring a "dignified peace closer and guarantee security" — accusing the Russian side of failing to take a "constructive approach even with regard to the ceasefire regime."

A third, more operationally sensitive dimension of Umerov's brief was also outlined by the president. "Third, there are several specific security-related instructions for the NSDC Secretary concerning our cooperation with the United States. Following today's meetings, I expect a detailed report," Zelenskyy said.

On the defence industry front, Zelenskyy revealed that he and Umerov had also discussed ongoing work around "drone deals" with European partners, with Kyiv preparing to formalise agreements already reached at the highest levels of government alongside new initiatives in joint technological development.

The Miami meeting was first signalled Wednesday, when a White House official confirmed to media that Umerov would meet US envoy Steve Witkoff in Florida as early as this week.

The talks arrive at a moment of pronounced diplomatic stagnation. Direct engagement between Kyiv and Moscow has largely stalled, and the Russia-Ukraine war has been increasingly overshadowed on the international stage by the US-Israeli conflict against Iran in recent months.

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