Negotiations Between the USA and Russia on Ukraine: What Was Discussed in Miami and What Plan Is Witkoff Taking to Moscow.

According to ТСН: Recently, a meeting of representatives from the USA and Ukraine took place at a golf club near Miami. This event was organized by Steve Witkoff, Trump's special representative, who is soon set to travel to Moscow to discuss a possible compromise peace plan to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. If this were typical diplomatic negotiations, they could be characterized as 'shuttle' diplomacy.

However, as noted by

The Wall Street Journal

, a new concept is forming behind closed doors in Florida — 'make money, not war'. Some experts call this 'realtor diplomacy' since Witkoff has significant experience in real estate. He and other American officials are criticized in Europe for cynicism and attempts to negotiate with Russia at the expense of Ukraine.

The policy of 'containing Russia through trade' during Angela Merkel's chancellorship has proven ineffective, as is openly discussed in the EU, hinting at the weaknesses of the Trump administration's approaches. However, due to the lack of unity among European countries, Kyiv is forced to participate in the 'sophisticated' diplomatic game of the Americans.

'Trading' territories: what Ukraine is being pushed towards

In response to the results of the negotiations in Miami, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that there is still much work ahead. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the constructive nature of the talks, stressing the importance of Ukraine's sovereignty and national interests. However, according to

Axios

, the five-hour negotiations between the USA and Ukraine focused on defining the de facto border with Russia in accordance with a possible peace agreement.

'The USA wants Ukraine to relinquish its territory to convince Putin to make peace, but this would be a painful and politically explosive concession,' the publication emphasizes.

Reports indicate that Witkoff during his visit to Moscow may communicate the USA's readiness to recognize Russia's effective control over occupied Ukrainian territories. However, Kyiv insists on the impossibility of territorial concessions at all levels. It is important to note that a possible 'exchange of territories' could create a dangerous international precedent.

Recently, Putin issued a condition: 'Ukrainian troops, if they leave the occupied territories, then we will stop military actions; if they do not leave — we will achieve it through military means.' It is currently unclear which territories are being referred to, as Putin has already included four Ukrainian regions — Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia — in the Russian constitution, as well as Crimea.

This could be an attempt to destabilize the situation in Ukraine, including the demand for elections to be held 100 days after signing a peace agreement. However, the Kremlin refuses to agree to a ceasefire, which should be the first step towards any negotiations, although the Trump administration is not insisting on this either.

Security guarantees: even 'Budapest-2' is absent

The Kremlin confirmed that it received from the USA the 'core parameters' of the peace plan after negotiations in Geneva. However, as showed by Putin's monologue, it is unlikely that the Kremlin will agree to the proposed plan. It involves 28 points that could become the basis of future agreements.

The USA administration, acting as a mediator, conveys the positions of both sides, but does not impose any conditions on Russia. Yet Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated to European allies that the USA wants a peace agreement to be concluded before providing Ukraine with security guarantees. The State Department and the White House have denied this information, emphasizing that 'any agreement must ensure full security guarantees for Ukraine'. However, there were no signs that the USA and their European allies are ready to ratify such agreements.

NATO membership. The best security guarantee for Ukraine is membership in the Alliance. However, as indicated by

CNN

, during the negotiations in Miami, the Americans stated that in the event of an agreement with Russia, Ukraine would effectively be prohibited from joining NATO. The Kremlin also insists on the cancellation of Ukraine's course towards Euro-Atlantic integration.

Arms supplies. Equipping Ukrainian defense forces with weapons is also a crucial guarantee. After the start of Trump’s second term, the USA halted arms supplies to Ukraine; instead, a sale is planned through the PURL initiative, coordinated by NATO, with a volume of military aid which, it is estimated, could reach $5 billion. But this funding cannot be compared to the military assistance program during Joe Biden's presidency, thus not providing adequate reliability for the Ukrainian army.

International contingent. If the USA and their European allies believe that Putin may agree to suspend the war, they need to develop a mission mandate that will oversee compliance with the agreement. However, currently, no actions in this direction are being taken.

After the meeting of delegations in Miami, Trump stated that the negotiations 'are going very well' and that there is 'a good chance to agree on an agreement'. However, Putin’s words suggest otherwise. The head of the Estonian Defense Forces' intelligence center noted that peace is not approaching, as Russia continues to strike Ukrainian civilian objects. Despite this, at an official level, the USA no longer condemns Moscow's actions.

The situation surrounding Ukraine remains tense, and the results of the meeting in Miami have prompted new discussions and possible concessions. The confrontation between the USA and Russia continues, while the diplomatic efforts of both sides are becoming increasingly complicated. Whether a peace agreement that satisfies all parties can be reached remains to be seen in the future.