Ukrainian and European officials had productive' talks on ending war, US envoy says

"Posting on social media, Steve Witkoff said the talks aimed at aligning on a shared strategic approach between Ukraine, the US and Europe. Our shared priority is to stop the killing, ensure guaranteed security, and create conditions for Ukraine's recovery, stability, and long-term prosperity. Peace must be not only a cessation of hostilities, but also a dignified foundation for a stable future, said Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East."

"The US president has unleashed an extensive diplomatic push to end the war, but his efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands by Moscow and Kyiv. The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has recently signaled he is digging in on his maximalist demands on Ukraine, as Moscow's troops inch forward on the battlefield despite huge losses. Witkoff's assessment comes as negotiations have been proceeding with Russia as well. A Kremlin envoy said on Saturday that the talks were pressing on constructively in Florida."

Talks in Florida brought Ukrainian and European representatives together with a US envoy to pursue a shared strategic approach aimed at ending the nearly four-year war. The goals included stopping the killing, ensuring guaranteed security, and creating conditions for Ukraine's recovery, stability, and long-term prosperity, with peace framed as more than cessation of hostilities. The US pursued an extensive diplomatic push amid sharply conflicting demands from Moscow and Kyiv. Russian positions hardened under maximalist demands even as Moscow's forces advanced despite heavy losses. Parallel negotiations with Russia were described as proceeding constructively, while claims of trilateral talks were officially denied.

Read at www.theguardian.com