High-level discussions between the United States and Ukraine have concluded with a clear message: any meaningful advancement towards ending the conflict requires a genuine commitment from Russia. The talks, held over three days in Miami, Florida, come amid ongoing violence on the ground, including deadly drone strikes and the continued destruction of frontline towns.
Diplomatic Push in Florida Awaits Russian Moves
American and Ukrainian negotiators agreed that "real progress toward any agreement depends on Russia's readiness to show serious commitment to long-term peace." This includes tangible steps towards de-escalation and an end to the violence. The US delegation, led by Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, met with Ukraine's top negotiator Rustem Umerov and the chief of staff of Kyiv's armed forces, Andrii Hnatov.
The dialogue in Miami followed a separate meeting in Moscow, where Witkoff and Kushner presented a US peace plan to Vladimir Putin. The Russian president reportedly rejected parts of the proposal and issued a stark warning, stating Russia was "ready" for war if initiated by Europe.
European Unity and the Frozen Assets Debate
Amid concerns over transatlantic solidarity, French President Emmanuel Macron insisted there is "no mistrust" between Europe and the United States regarding Ukraine. He emphasised the essential nature of their unity during a visit to China. Concurrently, European leaders are pushing forward with a contentious plan to use frozen Russian state assets to fund Ukraine's defence and reconstruction.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held talks with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever to secure support for the plan, which Belgium has so far been reluctant to endorse. Moscow's ambassador to Germany, Sergey Nechaev, condemned the initiative as "theft," warning it would have "far-reaching consequences" for the EU.
Violence Continues on the Ground
As diplomats talked, the war's brutal toll continued. In Ukraine's central Dnipropetrovsk region, a Russian drone attack destroyed a house, killing a 12-year-old boy and injuring two women, according to regional head Vladyslav Haivanenko. The frontline town of Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region remains a stark symbol of the devastation, with residential buildings reduced to rubble.
Ukrainian forces, meanwhile, conducted long-range drone strikes into Russia. Attacks were reported on the Temryuk seaport in the Krasnodar region, causing a fire, and on the city of Syzran, where unconfirmed reports suggest an oil refinery was hit. A drone also struck a high-rise in Grozny, the capital of Russia's Chechnya region, prompting leader Ramzan Kadyrov to vow retaliation.
In a show of economic defiance, Vladimir Putin assured Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "uninterrupted" oil shipments, framing the countries' ties as "resilient to external pressure" from the West.
