Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Dec 1: US secretary of state Marco Rubio said that nearly four hours of discussions with a Ukrainian delegation in Florida yielded “additional” progress on a revised peace proposal aimed at resolving the Ukraine crisis, though significant work is still ahead.

“This is delicate, it’s complicated,” Rubio told reporters after Sunday’s meeting. “There are many moving parts, and of course, there is another party involved that must ultimately be part of the equation.”

Rubio stressed that Washington’s goal extends beyond ending the conflict. “We don’t just want to stop the war — we want to help ensure Ukraine’s long-term security,” he said.

Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council and head of Kyiv’s negotiating team, described the talks as “difficult but productive.” In a Facebook post, he said the delegations made “tangible progress toward achieving a just peace,” while noting that substantial work remains. He added that both sides would continue consultations and coordination to advance the peace process.

The latest round of negotiations took place earlier in the day in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Neither Rubio nor Umerov took questions from the press following the session.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, US presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — son-in-law to President Donald Trump — also participated in Sunday’s meeting and are expected to travel to Moscow on Monday for further discussions.