(C) The Hill

WASHINGTON D.C. — Officials from the United States and Ukraine are scheduled to hold critical talks in Florida on November 30 (local time) to finalize a proposed peace settlement intended for Russia, according to reports by Reuters on November 29.

The meeting will bring together a high-level US delegation, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, with the Ukrainian delegation. The talks are taking place in Florida, where President Trump is residing at his Mar-a-Lago residence for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the visit on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the dialogue, based on clauses discussed in Geneva, would continue. He noted that the US side has shown a "constructive approach," and specific steps to determine an honorable end to the war could be formalized within days.

Pressure Mounts as Russia Escalates Attacks 

The negotiations come at a particularly difficult juncture for Kyiv. Russia launched massive missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, the day before the talks, resulting in numerous casualties.

The military situation on the front lines continues to be challenging for Ukraine, with Russia making incremental gains. Ukrainian cities are also struggling with daily power outages lasting several hours due to sustained Russian attacks on critical infrastructure. Reuters described President Zelenskyy's current position as his most challenging political and military situation since the start of Russia's invasion in 2022. Domestically, Zelenskyy is also facing a crisis after the resignation of his close aide, Andriy Yermak, the former head of the Presidential Office, who was under investigation for alleged corruption in energy dealings.

The Ukrainian delegation for the Florida talks is now being led by Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, following Yermak’s departure.

From 28 Points to a Negotiable 19 

The current discussions aim to conclude a new version of a peace plan initially pressed upon Ukraine by President Trump. The original, 28-point proposal, reportedly crafted through back-channel talks with Russia, contained unfavorable terms for Ukraine, such as ceding Donbas territory, permanently renouncing NATO membership, and drastically reducing its military size. This initial plan faced significant backlash from Ukraine, Europe, and even some Republicans in the US.

Following the negative reception, the US met with Ukrainian officials in Geneva on November 23 to discuss a revised, more Ukraine-centric plan. The new proposal has been streamlined to 19 clauses, notably leaving critical, sensitive issues—such as territorial integrity and the permanent prohibition of NATO membership—as "unfinished" to be decided by Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy in a potential summit.

After the conclusion of talks with Ukraine, Envoy Witkoff is scheduled to lead a US delegation to Moscow next week to present and discuss the revised peace framework with Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, some observers suggest that because the revised proposal incorporates more of Ukraine's positions on issues deemed vital by Putin, Russia may be reluctant to agree to the new terms.

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