Ukrainian delegation arrives in US for new round of peace talks

A Ukrainian delegation arrived in the United States on Saturday, January 17, to launch a new round of negotiations with American mediators aimed at securing an end to the war that Russia initiated against Ukraine.

Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, who is a member of the delegation, announced the development on his Telegram account.

The delegation is composed of Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine; Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council; and Davyd Arakhamia, leader of the Servant of the People party’s parliamentary faction.

According to Ukrainian officials, talks between the United States and Ukraine on potential scenarios for concluding the war will resume later the same day in Miami. The Ukrainian side notes that the discussions will concentrate primarily on matters of security guarantees and Ukraine’s long-term economic development.

Washington has been engaged in mediation efforts for several weeks. However, on core issues such as Ukraine’s prospective NATO membership and Russia’s territorial demands, Moscow and Kyiv remain fundamentally divided. Russia continues to advance maximalist conditions that Kyiv considers equivalent to Ukraine’s capitulation.

US President Donald Trump recently renewed accusations that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is prolonging peace negotiations. Zelenskyy, for his part, has repeatedly called for increased pressure on Moscow. He has also indicated that a bilateral document with the United States concerning security guarantees for Ukraine is largely ready and could be finalised at the highest political level.

Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States, Olha Stefanishyna, announced that the meetings in Miami will also involve work on agreements related to security guarantees and Ukraine’s “economic recovery,” with a potential value of up to 690 billion euros. If progress is sufficient, the relevant documents could be signed as early as next week during the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Russia is not taking part in the Miami discussions, but a visit by American officials to Moscow is expected soon. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov previously stated that Russia anticipates the arrival of the US Special Representative for Ukraine, Steve Witkoff, and President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, for talks on possible pathways to ending the war. Both men visited Moscow in early December for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

By Tamilla Hasanova