Ukraine Recasts Negotiating Team as Florida Peace Talks Called "Productive"

Official negotiations between the United States and Ukraine over an end to the war entered a more productive phase after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dispatched a retooled Ukrainian delegation to Florida, a former Ukrainian government official said on condition of anonymity.

Rustem Umerov now leads the Ukrainian team after longtime adviser and chief of staff Andriy Yermak stepped down amid an anti‑corruption raid. The anonymous source described the personnel change as a signal that Kyiv is reassessing what the source called an "uncompromising" diplomatic posture that had guided Ukraine’s approach for years.

Who attended and what was said

The new Ukrainian delegation included Rustem Umerov (chair of the Security Council), Andrii Hnatov (head of the armed forces) and Andrii Sybiha (foreign minister). Umerov was described by the source as a pragmatic figure more willing to pursue compromise in pursuit of results.

“Yermak had been teaching Zelenskyy to be a 'Father of the Nation,' and until now the Ukrainian side pushed for an unachievable and uncompromising position,” the former official said. The source also warned that elements loyal to Yermak may still exert influence behind the scenes.

After the meeting, Umerov thanked his American counterparts and characterized the discussions as constructive, saying the delegations discussed "the future of Ukraine" and built on previous meetings in Geneva. He said the U.S. had been "very supportive" and that the session was "productive and successful in the later stages."

The Florida talks aimed to refine a framework proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump and to advance ongoing efforts to negotiate an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine. The meeting followed publication of a leaked Oct. 14 transcript of a call in which a U.S. special envoy allegedly advised Russian officials on how to present a peace plan; the anonymous source said the leak had complicated negotiations and undermined trust.

U.S. participants and statements

Senior U.S. participants included Senator Marco Rubio, envoy Steve Witkoff and senior advisor Jared Kushner. Rubio described the session as "very productive," saying it built on earlier discussions and reiterated the goal of ending the war while securing Ukraine’s long‑term safety and prosperity.

Former President Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One, said he believed there was "a good chance we can make a deal" and that both Russia and Ukraine had reasons to pursue a settlement.

President Zelenskyy, in a public post, praised Umerov's leadership of the delegation, highlighted the talks' constructive dynamic and stressed that discussions had focused on protecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and national interests. He said he expected a full report from the negotiating team at a forthcoming personal meeting.

Context and human cost

The Florida talks took place just hours after a separate Russian strike on Kyiv that authorities said killed at least one person and wounded 19 others, including children. Since Russia’s full‑scale invasion in 2022, large parts of Ukraine have been devastated and roughly one‑fifth of the country’s territory remains under occupation.