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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says talks with Ukraine over a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war were productive, but there’s “more work to be done”. <\/p>\n
The talks, held in Florida, were attended by a Ukrainian delegation led by national security council secretary Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s new chief negotiator. <\/p>\n
Also at the meeting were President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Witkoff is due to visit Moscow for talks next week. <\/p>\n
Umerov was brought in to replace the Ukrainian president’s top negotiator, Andriy Yermak, after he quit following an anti-corruption raid on his home.<\/p>\n
Sunday’s meeting is the latest step in two weeks of intense diplomatic activity. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
It was sparked by the leaking of a 28-point US peace plan which shocked Ukraine and its European allies for appearing to favour Russia, which invaded Ukraine nearly four years ago.<\/p>\n
“It’s not just about the terms that ends fighting,” Rubio said at the meeting in Hallandale Beach, north of Miami. <\/p>\n
“It’s about also the terms that set up Ukraine for long-term prosperity… I think we built on that today, but there’s more work to be done.”<\/p>\n
He also told the Ukrainian delegation that the aim of peace talks with Russia is to leave Ukraine “sovereign, independent and prosperous”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
As Sunday’s talks began, Umerov said: “We are discussing about the future of Ukraine, about the security of Ukraine, about no repetition of aggression of Ukraine, about prosperity of Ukraine, about how to rebuild Ukraine”. <\/p>\n
“US is hearing us,” he said, speaking in English. “US is supporting us. US is working beside us.”<\/p>\n
He later described the talks as “productive and successful” while Rubio said they had been “very productive and useful”.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said the talks were “going along well”, and there was a good chance of a deal being made to end the conflict. <\/p>\n
Trump said earlier he would send Witkoff and possibly also Kushner to Moscow this week to meet President Vladimir Putin to discuss the peace plan which has been much revised. <\/p>\n
In a post on social media, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said: “It is important that the talks have a constructive dynamic and that all issues were discussed openly and with a clear focus on ensuring Ukraine’s sovereignty and national interests.”<\/p>\n
He added he was grateful to the US and Trump for their efforts to try and end the war. <\/p>\n
One crucial unresolved issue is the fate of Ukrainian territory that Russia has either annexed or controls.<\/p>\n
The talks in Florida were “not easy”, a source who is said to be close to the Ukrainian delegation told AFP news agency.<\/p>\n
“But everyone is trying to be constructive and find a solution,” the source added. <\/p>\n
Zelensky is due to visit Paris on Monday for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, a strong ally. <\/p>\n
Tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed or injured, as well as thousands of civilians, and at least seven million people have become refugees<\/a> since Russia invaded on 24 February 2022. <\/p>\n The conflict between the two ex-Soviet states stretches back to 2014 when Ukraine’s pro-Russian president was overthrown and Russia responded by annexing Crimea and supporting armed uprisings in eastern Ukraine. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n