Today, a Ukrainian delegation, which includes the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov and Chief of the General Staff Andriy Hnatov, is departing for a working visit to Florida. This visit has been officially confirmed by the Office of the President of Ukraine.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Purpose of the Visit and Key Issues
As reported by the advisor to the President’s Office Oleksandr Bevz, the main task of the Ukrainian delegation is to gather information regarding the results of the trip by the U.S. President’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow. Discussions with the American side are also expected regarding the feedback after consultations with U.S. President Donald Trump and his team.
According to Bevz, the next steps for the negotiating group will be determined after receiving appropriate instructions from President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. He clarified that the most complex political issues remain for direct discussion between the leaders of Ukraine and the USA. The Ukrainian side is ready to hold high-level meetings.
Context and International Cooperation
Information about Rustem Umerov’s visit to the USA was previously circulated by Western media. Prior to this, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the preparation for a meeting in the United States, emphasizing the importance of dialogue between the Ukrainian delegation and representatives of President Trump.
“After the return of the American team from Moscow and the corresponding consultations in Washington, Rustem Umerov, Andriy Hnatov, and all those needed for negotiations will continue the conversation with representatives of President Trump,” the president stated.
Zelensky also mentioned that Kyiv expects news regarding contacts with the USA in the coming days, both in the format of personal meetings and telephone negotiations.
Recently, negotiations between American representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and Vladimir Putin regarding the parameters of a potential peace agreement within the framework of the Russian-Ukrainian war concluded in Moscow. Putin’s assistant Yuri Ushakov noted that no compromise has been reached so far, but some American proposals appear acceptable to the Russian side.
In turn, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that during the meeting with Witkoff and Kushner, the Russian delegation disagreed with some points of the American plan for ending the war, and during the negotiations, it was necessary to “go through each point” of the initiative. At the same time, according to Putin’s assistant, the discussions mainly concerned the overall concept rather than specific points.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha noted the positive impact of the negotiations in Moscow on the peace process. He also reported that the American side has invited the Ukrainian delegation to continue the dialogue in the USA in the near future.