In a significant diplomatic development, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff announced on Saturday that he engaged in constructive discussions with Russian Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev in Florida, part of ongoing efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine. This meeting is strategically timed just a day before negotiators from Ukraine and Russia are set to convene in Abu Dhabi to discuss a U.S.-backed initiative aimed at ceasing the nearly four-year conflict initiated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Witkoff conveyed optimism through a post on X, stating, “Today in Florida, the Russian Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev held productive and constructive meetings as part of the U.S. mediation effort toward advancing a peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian conflict.” He further expressed encouragement, indicating a potential willingness from Russia to pursue peace in Ukraine.
High-profile attendees at the talks included U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Jared Kushner—son-in-law of former President Donald Trump—and White House Senior Advisor Josh Gruenbaum. According to a source familiar with the discussions, the meeting commenced at 8:00 AM local time, with Dmitriev arriving in Miami for the talks.
While specifics regarding the discussions were not disclosed by either side, this meeting is part of a larger pattern of interactions between U.S. officials and Russian negotiators aimed at finding common ground on the contentious issue of Ukraine. Dmitriev, a key economic envoy for Russian President Vladimir Putin, previously met with Witkoff and Kushner at the World Economic Forum in Davos and held talks in Miami last December.
As the Abu Dhabi negotiations approach, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that there could be potential delays due to escalating tensions related to the U.S.-Iran situation. In his evening address, Zelensky emphasized Ukraine’s readiness to participate in all available formats for discussion, asserting the importance of productive results from these meetings. He noted, “We are counting on meetings next week and are preparing for them.”
The imminent round of talks in Abu Dhabi follows a series of in-person negotiations that took place last week, which were the first such discussions exploring a plan advocated by Trump. The United States has suggested that both Ukraine and Russia are close to reaching a deal, although they remain at an impasse over the critical issue of territory in a potential post-war settlement.
Concerning the military situation, the Kremlin indicated that Putin has authorized a temporary halt to strikes on Kyiv, a decision reportedly made following a request from Trump. This pause is set to end on Sunday, aligning with the anticipated start of negotiations.
