Ukraine Russia peace talks stall on security guarantees

Ukraine and the United States recently held a new round of talks aimed at ending the conflict with Russia. While the negotiations produced some progress, key issues—particularly security guarantees for Ukraine—remain unresolved. According to the Wall Street Journal, the parties discussed possible election timelines and territorial arrangements, but they were unable to bridge the gaps on security assurances.

The Ukrainian delegation, led by Rustem Umerov, met in Florida with the U.S. envoy appointed by President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, and informal adviser Jared Kushner. The meeting lasted more than four hours and was described as “productive” by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who cautioned that “there’s still work to be done.” A source close to the Ukrainian team characterized the talks as “not easy,” noting that “the search for formulations and solutions continues.” Umerov publicly thanked Washington, saying the United States is “supporting us” and “working beside us.”

Discussions reportedly covered potential timelines for new elections in Ukraine and the prospect of land swaps between Russia and Ukraine. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that signing a deal with Kyiv is “legally impossible” because Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s term expired last year, and Zelensky has refused to call elections under martial law. Kyiv continues to reject Russia’s core demands, including the withdrawal of troops from the Donbas region and recognition of Russia’s new borders. The scope and nature of any U.S. or Western security guarantees for Ukraine also remain unsettled.

After the meeting, Zelensky offered a restrained assessment on Telegram, noting that there had been “some constructive progress.” The United States has indicated it will press for a peace agreement before extending any security guarantees to Ukraine. Russia, meanwhile, insists that Ukraine abandon its NATO aspirations, adopt a neutral status, and prohibit nuclear weapons or Western troops on its soil. The conflict remains unresolved, with no clear end in sight, while the international community continues to monitor the situation and provide support to Ukraine.