Ukrainian delegation already on its way home from US – presidential adviser

KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO - 10 October, 18:35

Rustem Umierov. Photo: Ministry of Defence

The Ukrainian delegation that took part in the negotiations in the US is already on its way home.

Source: Dmytro Lytvyn, the Ukrainian president's communications adviser, in a comment to journalists

Quote: "The groups are already on their way home."

Details: Asked whether a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing is planned for the near future, Lytvyn said discussions are scheduled for Saturday, Sunday and Monday, but "the format is still being worked out".

He said the second day of the negotiations in the US "wasn't exactly cancelled, it was just that the first one ended up being longer and with a slightly different flavour".

Previously: It was reported that negotiations in Miami between representatives of the US, Ukraine, European countries and NATO on ways to de-escalate and end the war had ended earlier than planned.

Background:

On 8 October, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that a Ukrainian delegation would be travelling to the US for talks. The 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 President's Office; and Serhii Kyslytsia, First Deputy Head of the President's Office.
Ahead of the meeting, Axios reported, citing US and Ukrainian officials, that the 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 "birthday present for Putin" will provide Russia with billions more to continue the war.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine's negotiating team in the US had been used as "cover" while Trump and Putin reached agreements on fuel supplies.
Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian leader, stated that in a phone call with Trump, Putin rejected the possibility of peace talks, stressing that Russia will continue military operations until it has achieved "all its objectives".

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