On March 22, negotiations between U.S. and Ukrainian delegations continued in Florida as part of ongoing efforts to secure a peace agreement amid the ongoing conflict. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff described the discussions as “constructive,” building on previous dialogues focused on establishing a reliable security framework for Ukraine and addressing humanitarian issues.
Witkoff expressed a positive assessment of the talks and acknowledged President Donald Trump’s consistent leadership in advancing peace efforts. U.S. officials emphasized that the dialogue remains substantive and ongoing.
The American delegation included Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and senior White House advisor Josh Gruenbaum. Ukraine was represented by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Servant of the People faction Davyd Arakhamia, and Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Serhiy Kyslytsia.
Following the conclusion of the talks, President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that while U.S. attention is currently focused on the situation surrounding Iran, it is crucial to conclude Russia’s war against Ukraine. He emphasized that Russia should not receive any “reward” for its actions and that security guarantees for Ukraine and the EU must be robust enough to prevent a return to conflict in the future.
Umerov also summarized the outcomes of the Florida meetings, highlighting a focus on reliable security guarantees and humanitarian aspects, including the exchange and return of citizens. He reported progress in aligning positions and narrowing unresolved issues.
Umerov stated that a detailed report would be presented to President Zelensky upon their return to Ukraine. He expressed gratitude to the United States for its systematic involvement in the negotiation process and expressed hope that the momentum achieved would facilitate the next phase of discussions.
Earlier in January and February, several rounds of trilateral meetings involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia took place, aimed at ending the war. While specific results were not disclosed, a notable outcome from the February 5 meeting was an agreement on a prisoner exchange, the first in five months. A subsequent meeting scheduled for early March in Abu Dhabi was postponed indefinitely due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Recent negotiations between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Florida focused on establishing security guarantees and humanitarian issues amid ongoing conflict. Both sides reported constructive discussions, with hopes for further progress in future meetings.