Ukraine, US and European talks in Miami end early

Talks between representatives of the United States, Ukraine, European countries and NATO in Miami on ways to de-escalate and end the war have ended earlier than planned.

Source: Alex Raufoglu, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's senior Washington correspondent; the US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff

Quote from Raufoglu: "Miami talks concluded sooner than planned. 'No second day,' sources tell me."

Details: Witkoff said that participants in the meeting had "held constructive discussions on potential avenues to de-escalate and conclude the war with Russia ahead of winter and advance efforts toward a durable and lasting peace".

"The discussions covered a broad range of issues, including near-term measures related to winter preparedness (energy resilience, grains exports), security guarantees, as well as longer-term arrangements for Ukraine's and Europe's security to prevent future conflicts, and support Ukraine's post-war reconstruction and economic prosperity, including EU accession," he wrote.

Witkoff stressed that the productive exchange of views had helped identify areas of work ahead of the United States' next contacts with Russia.

Background:

• On 8 October, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that talks would take place in the US involving a Ukrainian delegation. This delegation included Davyd Arakhamiia, leader of the Servant of the People party; Rustem Umierov, Head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service; Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine; and Serhii Kyslytsia, First Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.
• Ahead of the meeting, Axios reported, citing US and Ukrainian officials, that US President's Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were planning to present "new ideas and proposals" in Miami to break the diplomatic deadlock.
• On 9 October, US President Donald Trump said he had had a "highly successful discussion" with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and reached an agreement on lifting sanctions on Russian diesel fuel.
• Zelenskyy strongly criticised Trump's actions, describing the easing of sanctions as an "absolutely terrible" move. He stressed that this "happy birthday present for Putin" will provide Russia with billions more to continue the war
• Zelenskyy said Ukraine's negotiating team in the US was being used as "cover" while Trump and Putin reached agreements on fuel supplies.
• Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Vladimir Putin, said that the Russian leader had rejected the prospect of peace talks and stressed that Russia will continue fighting until it has achieved "all its objectives" during a phone call with US President Donald Trump.

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