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US–Ukraine Talks in Florida Move Forward as Trump Says “Good Chances” for Peace Deal
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Florida negotiations between senior US and Ukrainian officials wrapped late Sunday with what both delegations described as meaningful progress—even as major sticking points, including territory and NATO membership, remain unresolved.
Officials from both sides stressed that work toward a potential framework for ending Russia’s war on Ukraine is advancing, but far from finished, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov in the closing words for negotiations, broadcasted by Suspilne on November 30.
Ukrainian officials briefed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy late in the evening, while President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that the discussions offered “good chances” for a peace deal, despite what he called Ukraine’s “complicated problems.”
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Rubio: “This is about long-term prosperity, not just ending the war”
Marco Rubio, speaking to journalists after the session, emphasized that the talks are aimed not only at halting Russia’s war but at securing Ukraine’s future.
“It is very important to end the war, but what is also important is security for Ukraine — so there are no new invasions,” Rubio said. “We want Ukraine to enter an era of prosperity, not just reconstruction… This is about preparing Ukraine for lasting prosperity.”
Rubio noted that the Geneva framework laid the groundwork, and that Florida’s discussions were “another step forward,” but acknowledged the complexity ahead. He also referenced Trump envoy Steven Witkoff’s upcoming trip to Moscow: “There is another side that has to be part of this equation.”
Rubio described the meeting as “productive,” adding: “We remain realistic about how difficult this looks, but also realistic about the progress that’s already happening.”
Umerov: “Significant progress toward a just peace”
Ukraine’s delegation, led by National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, also called the talks productive.
“We have finished a difficult but productive session of negotiations in Florida. We have tangible progress toward establishing a just peace,” Umerov said later on social media.
He thanked the United States for its support and stressed that more work lies ahead, saying, “We continue consultations and coordination of next steps for the sake of peace for Ukraine.”
Zelenskyy: “There is constructive dialogue”
President Zelenskyy said the results presented by Umerov reflected “a constructive conversation” with the US side.
“It is important that there is constructive dialogue, and that all issues were discussed frankly and focused on ensuring Ukraine’s sovereignty and national interests,” Zelenskyy said.
Today, following the work of the teams in the United States, head of the Ukrainian delegation Rustem Umerov reported on the main parameters of the dialogue, its emphases, and some preliminary results. It is important that the talks have a constructive dynamic and that all issues…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 30, 2025
He expressed gratitude to the United States, “to President Trump’s team and to the President personally for the time being invested so intensively in determining steps to end the war.”
Zelenskyy added he expects a full briefing from his delegation during an in-person meeting.
Trump: “Good chances” for a peace deal—but “complicated problems” remain
Speaking aboard Air Force One, President Trump signaled cautious optimism.
“I think there are good chances that we can reach a deal,” Trump said, adding that peace efforts are “moving well.” He noted, however, that “Ukraine has some complicated problems,” referencing a Midas operation conducted by the Ukrainian National Anti-Corruption Bureau with the help of the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.
Trump said he had spoken with Rubio and Witkoff after their meeting with Ukrainian officials:
“They’re working well. Ukraine has some difficult issues, but I think Russia would like this to end.”
Asked to clarify, Trump said the “situation with corruption” was one of the obstacles complicating negotiations.
According to a well-briefed source cited by Ukrainian media RBC-Ukraine, the Florida talks did not finalize a draft peace agreement. Instead, negotiators focused on the most difficult outstanding questions.
Territorial demands at the center of talks
American mediators relayed Russia’s position, including Moscow’s demand for a full withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Donbas.
The Ukrainian side stated this is impossible—due to constitutional constraints, public opinion, and the realities on the battlefield. Ukraine reiterated that any territorial discussion must begin from the current line of contact, not Moscow’s maximalist claims.
NATO membership remains a principled red line
Ukraine made clear that its constitutional course toward NATO membership cannot be traded away for a peace deal, calling such an amendment a “dangerous precedent.” Kyiv also stressed that granting Russia a de facto veto over NATO membership is unacceptable.
US negotiators acknowledged Ukraine’s arguments but noted the challenge of bringing Moscow into any final understanding.
Security guarantees: not a point of contention
One area of alignment is security guarantees. According to the source, the US sees the prospective agreement as “a long-term architecture for peace, investment attractiveness, and prosperity,” not merely an end to fighting.
Security assurances are viewed as essential to making that vision viable, and Rubio reaffirmed the US commitment to providing them.
Next round: TBD—but contacts continue daily
It remains undecided where and when the next formal round will take place. However, working-level contact between Washington and Kyiv is ongoing.
“The fact that we met in Geneva and now in Florida doesn’t mean there weren’t working contacts in between. They are constant,” the source said.
Kyiv also emphasized the need for a direct conversation between Zelenskyy and Trump to outline the highest-level political parameters.
“There are things the President of Ukraine believes must be discussed personally with his American counterpart,” the source said. “We hope this view will be heard.”
Earlier, the United Kingdom welcomed progress in US-Ukraine talks on a just end to Russia’s war, while stressing that only the Ukrainian people can determine the country’s future.
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