The Secretary of the Council for the Security of Ukraine, Rustem Umérov, responsible for negotiations on the peace plan for the Russian-Ukrainian war, reported this Sunday on the start of a meeting in the United States between envoys from Kyiv and U.S. representatives. "The meeting between the Ukrainian delegation and the U.S. side on the steps to be taken to achieve a just peace has begun in the United States," Umérov wrote on his X account, saying he is in constant contact with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. "We have clear orders and priorities: to safeguard Ukraine's interests, ensure a substantial dialogue, and advance on the basis of the progress made in Geneva," Umérov added, who traveled to the United States the day before at the head of Ukraine's delegation to continue work on the points of the peace plan already discussed in Switzerland a week ago. "We are working to ensure a real and reliable peace for Ukraine, with long-term security guarantees," Umérov specified, noting in his message that he will inform the Ukrainian president of the conclusions of the meetings scheduled for this Sunday. In his X post, Umérov published a photo of the meeting along with his message, in which both delegations could be seen sitting, face to face. Opposite Umérov were, among others, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to the Ukrainian agency Ukrinform, the Ukrainian delegation includes, along with Umérov, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kylilia, Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S., Olha Stefanishyna, and the deputy head of the Military Development Department of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, Vadym Skibitsky. On the U.S. side, in addition to Rubio, there is Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, among others. In statements reported by Ukrinform, Umérov stated that the parties are currently discussing "the future, security, preventing new aggression against Ukraine, the prosperity" of the country invaded by Russia. "We are grateful for the efforts of the United States and their team that is helping us," the head of the Kyiv delegation stated. "We have been working with the United States for the last ten months, holding meetings and making significant progress. I am grateful to the president's (Donald Trump) super-team for supporting us," he added. Continuing Geneva's work The day before, Zelensky stated about the negotiations that "the task is clear: to quickly and significantly prepare the definition of steps to end the war." "Ukraine continues to work constructively with the United States as much as possible," Zelensky added. The visit of the delegation led by Umérov to Florida (USA) takes place against the backdrop of Kyiv's hope, among other things, to arrange a meeting between Zelensky and the U.S. president. Kyiv wants both leaders to address the most important details of the framework agreement negotiated by envoys in Geneva to end the war. In that Swiss city, Ukrainians and Americans discussed the 28-point plan to pacify the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the start of which, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, will mark its fourth anniversary next February. At the end of the contacts in Geneva last Sunday, both sides agreed to continue working on a draft peace plan based on the initial 28-point document presented by the United States.
