Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized this Sunday, after the meeting of the Kiev delegation with North American representatives in Florida, the constructive tone of the dialogue between the parties and the fact that Ukraine’s interests have been addressed. “It is important that there is a constructive tone in the conversation and that all issues were addressed openly and with the aim of guaranteeing Ukraine’s sovereignty and national interests”, wrote Zelensky on the Telegram platform about the dialogue regarding the peace plan maintained between Kiev and Washington.
Already the The North American president considered that there are “good chances” of reaching an agreement to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, following negotiations between a North American and Ukrainian delegation in Florida. “I think Russia would like this to end, and I think Ukraine, I know Ukraine would like this to end”, declared Donald Trump aboard Air Force One (presidential plane).
In the same statements, Trump addressed the corruption scandal that recently affected the closest circle of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stating that this situation “does not help” the negotiations. “Ukraine has a little ongoing problem situation, which doesn’t help,” he said.
A vast investigation into corruption in the energy sector revealed in recent weeks led to the dismissal, on Friday, of Andrii Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff and seen as the Ukrainian President’s right-hand man. Andrii Yermak was leading negotiations with the United States until then.
Meanwhile, an American official told the news agency France-Presse (AFP) that the special envoy of the White House (American presidency), Steve Witkoff, will leave for Moscow on Monday, with the aim of continuing negotiations with Russia on Washington’s plan to end the war in Ukraine. The same source indicated that Witkoff is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.
“I thank the United States, the President’s team [Donald] Trump and the President himself for the time they are dedicating so intensely to defining the steps to end the war. We will continue to work”, added Zelensky after being informed about the meeting results between the delegation led by the Secretary of State of the Security Council of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, and the North American representatives.
The Ukrainian head of state, who wrote his message after being informed about what he called “the main parameters of the dialogue, the highlights and some results”, specified that he expects a “complete report” from the delegation, which will be delivered to him in a private meeting.
At the meeting held in Florida between the delegation led by Umerov and the group of United States (USA) representatives, headed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both sides discussed the peace plan to end the war, started by the Russian invasion in February 2022. After the meeting, Rubio himself noted that the work session was “productive and useful” but that “there is still a lot of work to do.” “I believe that new progress has been made,” Rubio declared after the meeting with Umerov. Sources from the Ukrainian delegation told Agence France Press that negotiations were being