Witkoff, Kushner to Meet Ukraine Adviser in Miami as Diplomatic Push Intensifies

Witkoff, Kushner to Meet Ukraine’s National Security Adviser in Miami

Dec. 4 (UPI) — The White House announced that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet Ukrainian National Security Adviser Rustem Umerov in Miami on Thursday as momentum grows around efforts to secure a deal to end the war in Ukraine.

President Donald Trump told reporters that discussions Witkoff and Jared Kushner — Trump’s son-in-law and member of the delegation — held with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday went “very good,” and that the delegation believed Putin showed a genuine desire for peace. Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Trump cautioned it was too soon to predict the outcome, noting, "It does take two to tango," but added he thought the United States and Ukraine were largely aligned.

"I think we have something pretty well worked out with them. They're very satisfied, considering," Trump said.

Ukrainian Response

In his nightly address Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed cautious optimism that the current U.S.-led push could yield a breakthrough. He said the initiative — publicly floated by President Trump in mid-November and reportedly shaped with input from Russian officials — helped ensure Ukraine's position was heard during recent meetings in Geneva and Florida.

"Everything is now proceeding quite effectively — at meetings in Geneva and Florida, Ukraine was heard, and Ukraine was listened to. And that matters. We expect it will continue exactly this way," Zelensky said.

Zelensky added that any diplomatic progress must be backed by sustained pressure on Russia: "Everything depends on this combination — constructive diplomacy plus pressure on the aggressor."

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha struck a far sterner tone, accusing President Putin of "wasting the world's time" and demanding that Moscow end the killing immediately.

Russian and NATO Reactions

Yuri Ushakov, President Putin's senior foreign policy aide, described Tuesday's talks as "constructive" and said they provided an opportunity to discuss prospects for resolving the conflict. He emphasized, however, that the question of Ukraine ceding territory remains unresolved. "We do not see a resolution to the crisis," Ushakov said, calling territory "the most important one for us." The Kremlin confirmed that Putin was willing to meet the U.S. delegation "as many times as needed," and noted that Ukraine's potential NATO membership was also discussed.

At a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte — speaking for allies at the session — said NATO-related elements would need to be addressed separately from the Trump initiative. He added that allied commitments to equip Ukraine remain on track: countries are moving to meet a 2025 goal to buy $5 billion in U.S.-made weapons for Kyiv.

New pledges announced this week from the Netherlands, Canada, Germany and Norway totalled about $951 million. Rutte warned that continued long-term support will be vital, suggesting 2026 pledges should aim for roughly $1 billion per month, or around $15 billion for the year.

What To Watch

• Thursday's Miami meeting between Witkoff and Umerov for indications of Ukrainian receptivity to any proposed framework.
• Whether Moscow signals flexibility on territorial and security guarantees, the central sticking points noted by Kremlin aides.
• Allied funding and weapons deliveries in the coming months, and whether pledges accelerate if talks progress.