Kremlin Envoy Heads to Miami for Talks on Ukraine Peace Plan as EU Considers Major Loan

A Kremlin envoy is set to travel to Miami this weekend to discuss a U.S.-proposed plan to end the war in Ukraine, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The meeting comes as European Union leaders weigh a large loan to help the Ukrainian government.

Moscow’s Representative Arrives in Florida

Kirill Dmitriev, who heads Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son‑in‑law, Jared Kushner, on Saturday in Miami. The American official said that Dmitriev will sit down with Witkoff and Kushner after meetings in Berlin earlier this week, where U.S. security guarantees for Kyiv, territorial concessions and other aspects of the American‑authored plan were discussed.

Kremlin’s Stance on the Talks

When asked about the Miami meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that Moscow was preparing for contacts with the U.S. to learn about the results of the Berlin meetings, but he did not give further details. Peskov’s comments came after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow would seek to extend its gains in Ukraine if Kyiv and its Western allies rejected the Kremlin’s demands in peace talks.

Putin’s Demands and Ukraine’s Position

Putin has outlined several demands: recognition of all areas in four key regions captured by Russian forces, the Crimean Peninsula (annexed in 2014), and the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from some eastern areas that Moscow has not yet taken by force. The Kremlin also insists that Ukraine abandon its bid to join NATO and warns that Moscow will view the deployment of any NATO troops as a “legitimate target.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is ready to drop Ukraine’s NATO bid if the U.S. and other Western nations provide security guarantees similar to those offered to NATO members. However, Ukraine still prefers NATO membership as the best safeguard against further Russian aggression. Zelenskyy has also rejected Moscow’s demand for a pull‑back of Ukrainian troops from areas Russia has not captured.

U.S. Diplomatic Push

Donald Trump has launched an extensive diplomatic effort to end nearly four years of fighting that began with Russia’s full‑scale invasion on February 24, 2022. Washington’s efforts have met sharply conflicting demands from Moscow and Kyiv. The U.S. official’s brief indicated that the Miami talks are part of this broader push.

European Union’s Financial Decision

While the talks in Miami unfold, EU leaders are set to decide whether to use tens of billions of euros in frozen Russian assets to underwrite a loan that would meet Ukraine’s military and financial needs over the next two years. Zelenskyy, during a visit to Brussels, said that progress was being made in dialogue with the American side and that he counts on U.S. pressure to stop Putin.

First Lady’s Humanitarian Update

First Lady Melania Trump shared an update on her efforts to reunify children displaced by the war. She highlighted ongoing progress in dialogue with the American side regarding some points and mentioned that the U.S. is speaking with the Russian side as well.

Aerial Attacks Continue

As European allies gathered for the high‑stakes summit, Russia and Ukraine exchanged more aerial attacks. Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia fired 82 drones of various types overnight, with 63 intercepted or jammed. In Cherkasy, Russian drones targeting critical infrastructure wounded six people and left parts of the city without electricity, according to regional administration head Ihor Taburets. Russian drones also wounded four people in Kryvyi Rih and seven near Odesa, according to local officials.

In Russia’s Rostov region, three people were killed by Ukrainian drones overnight, including two crew members of a cargo ship hit in Rostov‑on‑Don and another man who died in Bataysk. At least ten others were wounded, local officials said. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its air defenses intercepted 47 Ukrainian drones overnight.

Key Takeaways

• Kirill Dmitriev will meet with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Miami to discuss a U.S. peace plan for Ukraine.
• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow is preparing to learn from Berlin talks but gave no further details.
• Putin demands recognition of Russian gains, withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from certain eastern areas, and Ukraine’s abandonment of a NATO bid.
• Zelenskyy remains open to security guarantees but rejects Moscow’s pull‑back demand and still favors NATO membership.
• EU leaders are weighing a loan backed by frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine over the next two years.
• Aerial attacks continue, with Russia firing 82 drones and Ukraine intercepting 47.

The Miami meeting, set for Saturday, represents a critical juncture in the ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, as Moscow and Kyiv grapple with divergent demands and the U.S. seeks a pathway to peace.

Closing

The outcome of the Miami talks could shape the next steps in U.S. diplomatic strategy and influence the EU’s financial decision, while the continued aerial hostilities underscore the urgency of a negotiated settlement. The world watches as these high‑level negotiations unfold amid the backdrop of a conflict that has reshaped international relations for nearly four years.