A new – crucial for the course of developments in relation to the possible end of the war in Ukraine – Ukrainian-American meeting began with the participation of top American and Ukrainian officials on Sunday afternoon (Greece time), this time in Florida, USA, an area considered the personal headquarters of US President Donald Trump.

On the United States side, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, the US president's son-in-law, were scheduled to participate in the talks.

The Ukrainian delegation, on the other hand, according to what had been known, would consist of Andriy Khnatov, head of the Ukrainian armed forces, Andriy Sibikha, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Rustem Umerov, head of the Ukrainian Security Council.

The talks taking place today in Florida come at an extremely critical time, just 24 hours after the resignation of A. Yermak, a former top aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and just 24 hours before the upcoming visit of Messrs. Witkov and Kushner to Russia.

The meeting between the Ukrainian delegation and the American side on steps toward achieving a just peace has already begun in the United States.

I remain in constant contact with the President of Ukraine. We have clear directives and priorities: safeguarding Ukrainian...

— Rustem Umerov (@rustem_umerov) November 30, 2025

The head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov, noted in a post on Sunday afternoon: The meeting between the Ukrainian delegation and the American side on steps towards achieving a just peace has already begun in the United States. I remain in constant contact with the President of Ukraine. We have clear instructions and priorities: safeguarding Ukrainian interests, ensuring a substantive dialogue, and building on the progress achieved in Geneva. We are working to ensure real peace for Ukraine and reliable, long-term security guarantees. The delegation will report to the President of Ukraine after the conclusion of today's meetings.

Ukraine is now facing intense pressure, both on the battlefields from the Russians who continue their bombings and attacks, and on the diplomatic front from the Americans who press the Ukrainian leadership to accept the terms of a peace agreement which is far from being ideal for Kiev. At the same time, the Ukrainian corruption scandals that have recently come to light (and led to Yermak's exit) have caused legitimate discomfort among the ranks of Kiev's European supporters, who are now also putting pressure.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted that Ukraine is going through one of the most difficult periods in its history, but he promised, addressing the Ukrainian people in a dramatic speech last week, that he would not betray the country.