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Russia: Florida talks were "constructive"

2025-12-21 11:01:55, Kosova & Bota CNA

Kirill Dmitriev, a senior Kremlin negotiator, said Russia and the United States were talking "constructively" in Florida and that peace negotiations would continue on December 21, although there were no further details on the matter.

"The discussions are proceeding constructively. They started earlier and will continue today, and will continue tomorrow," Dmitriev told reporters on December 20, on the sidelines of talks near Miami in the United States.

All parties involved in the US-brokered peace process have regularly mentioned "progress" or made similar assessments, without providing details.

The White House has not commented on the talks, although Reuters, citing an unidentified US official, reported that the talks had concluded for the day.

US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner are believed to be representing Washington. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier said he might attend the weekend talks, but no details were given.

The discussions in the US are the latest step in Trump's efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives and is approaching its fourth year.

Trump in November began pressuring Kiev to accept a 28-point proposal, which critics said was significantly pro-Russian.

Ukraine and its European backers urgently committed to making changes, aimed at protecting Ukraine's interests regarding territory, security guarantees for Kiev and other issues. According to reports, the plan now consists of 20 points and includes more of Ukraine's interests.

Ahead of the talks in Florida, Rubio insisted that Washington would not force either side to accept a deal.

"We can't force Ukraine to make a deal. We can't force Russia to make a deal. They have to want to make a deal themselves," he said.

"I think we've made progress [in the process], but we still have a ways to go. And, of course, the most difficult issues are always the last ones," the top US diplomat added.

The details of the plans being worked out remain unclear, but the general framework envisages Ukraine making territorial concessions in exchange for security guarantees.

The latest statements come after another week of heightened diplomatic and military activity, as Russia continues to strike civilian, infrastructure and military targets in Ukraine, while Kiev struggles to defend its eastern ground and retaliates with attacks on what it says are targets of military importance inside Russia.

During the week, US envoys held talks with European and Ukrainian officials, and a $106 billion loan for Kiev was approved during a European Union summit, while Russian President Vladimir Putin held a four-and-a-half-hour press conference, where he repeated his demands, along with disputed claims of progress on the battlefield. /REL