Rubio says "more work to be done" after hours of U.S.-Ukraine talks

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U.S. and Ukrainian officials completed astir 4 hours of talks Sunday aimed astatine uncovering an endgame to the war betwixt Russia and Ukraine.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Sunday's league — which included peculiar envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Trump, and Ukrainian delegates — arsenic "productive and useful," but talks volition proceed this week successful Moscow with Russian person Vladimir Putin.

"We don't conscionable privation to extremity the war. We besides privation to assistance Ukraine beryllium harmless forever. So ne'er again volition they look different invasion. And arsenic importantly, we privation them to participate an property of existent prosperity," helium said. "It's astir besides the presumption that acceptable up Ukraine for semipermanent prosperity. ... I deliberation we physique connected that today, but there's much enactment to beryllium done."

The negotiations travel astatine a delicate infinitesimal for Ukraine arsenic it continues to propulsion backmost against Russian forces that invaded successful 2022 portion dealing with a home corruption scandal.

Diplomats person been focused connected revisions to a proposed plan developed successful negotiations betwixt Washington and Moscow. That program has been criticized arsenic being excessively weighted toward Russian demands. During the gathering Sunday, Rubio focused connected reassuring Ukraine.

Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's caput of nationalist security, thanked American negotiators successful little remarks pursuing the gathering but provided small item of their discussion.

"We discussed each the important matters that are important for Ukraine, for Ukrainian radical and us, was ace supportive. We were already had a palmy gathering successful Geneva, and contiguous we proceed this success," Umerov said. "So astatine the moment, this gathering was productive and palmy connected the aboriginal stages, hopefully we'll support you updated."

Umerov has been progressive successful ongoing talks. But until now, Ukraine's caput negotiator had been Andriy Yermak, the almighty main of unit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On Friday, Zelenskyy announced the resignation of Yermak, aft his location was searched by anti-corruption investigators.

Zelenskyy's authorities has been roiled by fallout from a scandal implicit $100 million embezzled from the vigor assemblage done kickbacks paid by contractors, causing newfound home pressures for Zelenskyy.

It was lone a week agone that Rubio had met with Yermak successful Geneva, with each broadside saying the talks had been affirmative successful putting unneurotic a revised bid plan.

Among the different members of the Ukrainian delegation were Andrii Hnatov, the caput of Ukraine's equipped forces, and statesmanlike advisor Oleksandr Bevz.

The plan, which Mr. Trump has since played down arsenic a "concept" oregon a "map" to beryllium "fine-tuned," would person imposed limits connected the size of Ukraine's military, blocked the state from joining NATO and required Ukraine to clasp elections successful 100 days. Negotiators person indicated the model has changed, but it's not wide however its provisions person been altered.

It had initially envisioned Ukraine ceding the full eastbound portion of the Donbas to Russia — a sticking constituent for Kyiv.

Mr. Trump said Tuesday that helium would nonstop Witkoff and possibly Kushner to Moscow this week to conscionable with Putin astir the plan. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, successful comments published Sunday connected Russian authorities television, said Putin would spot Witkoff earlier Thursday, erstwhile Putin departs for India.

Both Witkoff and Kushner, similar Mr. Trump, hail from the satellite of existent property that values dealmaking implicit the conventions of diplomacy. The brace besides were down a 20-point connection that led to a ceasefire successful Gaza.

Zelenskyy wrote connected X that the Ukrainian delegation would "swiftly and substantively enactment retired the steps needed to extremity the war."

In his nightly code connected Saturday, Zelenskyy said the American broadside was "demonstrating a constructive approach."

"In the coming days it is feasible to soma retired the steps to find however to bring the warfare to a dignified end," helium said.