FOCUS – Trump steps up efforts for peace in Ukraine, negotiators meet in Miami

The United States is trying to restart negotiations to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.

President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are expected to meet today and tomorrow in Miami with Ukrainian negotiators and European representatives to discuss new proposals to end the conflict.

The news was reported by Axios, citing American and Ukrainian officials.

According to Axios, the Trump administration aims to achieve diplomatic progress before the winter and the U.S. midterm elections, which take place in November.

So far, however, no agreement reached between the parties has been announced.

One of the proposals expected to be discussed is a partial ceasefire, which would halt attacks on energy facilities and grain transport.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Kyiv is ready to consider halting attacks on energy infrastructure and resuming grain transport through the Black Sea.

However, according to sources cited by Axios, Russia has so far shown no readiness for such a ceasefire.

For this reason, the proposal remains at the discussion stage and there is no guarantee that it will be accepted by both sides.

From the Ukrainian side, the Miami talks are expected to be attended by Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the Ukrainian President, Rustem Umerov, head of foreign intelligence, diplomatic adviser Serhiy Kyslytsya and MP Davyd Arakhamia.

The national security advisers of the United Kingdom, France and Germany have also been invited to the meeting, as well as representatives of NATO and the European Union.

According to Axios, the discussions will also include security guarantees for Ukraine and a plan for the country’s post-war recovery.

Witkoff and Kushner met with President Trump yesterday to present him with the latest American proposal and receive his assessments ahead of the Miami talks.

The meeting was also attended by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Deputy National Security Adviser Mike Needham.

The two American envoys visited Moscow and Kyiv in early September and have since been working on updating the American peace initiative.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday in Lisbon that the war in Ukraine is in a dangerous stalemate.

He said the U.S. will continue efforts for a negotiated solution, but warned that an escalation of the fighting could cause a wider regional conflict.

President Zelensky has been cautious about the possible outcomes of the negotiations.

He has expressed doubts about whether Russia would respect an agreement to halt attacks, and has stressed that it is still too early to determine what can be achieved.

According to Axios, another possibility being considered is a return of Witkoff and Kushner to Moscow later in October for further talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

That visit, however, is still only a possibility and has not yet been confirmed.