US presidential representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are due to meet in Miami on 9 October with Ukrainian negotiators and European officials to present new ideas for breaking the deadlock in negotiations over Russia’s war against Ukraine. This was reported by Axios on 8 October, citing US and Ukrainian officials.
Briefly about the main points
- A meeting between Witkoff and Kushner and the Ukrainian delegation is scheduled for 9 October in Miami.
- Topics include security guarantees and a post-war plan for Ukraine’s prosperity.
- Discussions are taking place on the possibility of halting attacks on the energy sector and grain transport.
- There is currently no agreement between the parties on the proposals or on a partial ceasefire.
What issues should be discussed?
According to Axios, The talks may take place on 9–10 October. The US side plans to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, a post-war plan for its prosperity and other aspects of the war.
The publication does not provide any details of such a plan: its funding, those responsible for its implementation and the specific mechanisms for carrying it out remain unknown. These are new proposals for negotiations, not a peace agreement that has already been agreed.
A limited ceasefire is possible
According to Axios, one of the ideas is a partial ceasefire — a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure and grain shipments. Ukraine had stated its readiness to take such a step, whilst the publication assessed Russia’s readiness as low.
In September Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the US is pushing for three measures: an end to attacks on the energy sector, the reopening of the Black Sea grain corridor, and tripartite meeting the USA, Ukraine and Russia.
Context and the parties’ expectations
Axios reports that the administration Donald Trump is hoping for a diplomatic breakthrough before the US mid-term elections and before winter. An unnamed Ukrainian official, speaking to the publication, suggested that Vladimir Putin’s stance could be influenced by Russia’s need for sanctions relief and the US mid-term elections.
In Kyiv, there remains scepticism regarding the prospects for an agreement. The US side is seeking to draw up a unified proposal through mediation between the parties; however, no agreement on its content has yet been announced.
Among the participants from the Ukrainian side, Axios names the head of the President’s Office Kirill Budanov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council and Head of the Delegation Rustem Umerov, First Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Serhiy Kyslytsia and Member of Parliament David Arachamia.
