The United States has renewed efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, with officials from both countries and their European allies meeting in Miami to discuss possible ways to achieve peace.
The two-day talks, which began on Friday, October 9, involve US President Donald Trump’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as Washington seeks to break the deadlock in negotiations.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the continued failure to reach an agreement could lead to further escalation, potentially spreading the conflict to neighbouring NATO countries. He maintained that a military solution would not resolve the crisis.
The talks come as Trump announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to increase diesel supplies to international markets. Trump said Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel, with another 500,000 tonnes expected in November.
The US Treasury Department also issued a temporary licence allowing Russian diesel to enter global markets. The announcement comes amid disruptions to international energy supplies linked to the US-Israeli war with Iran.
Energy security is expected to feature in the Miami discussions, with a possible partial ceasefire covering attacks on energy facilities and grain shipments among the proposals under consideration. Ukraine has indicated its willingness to explore the arrangement, while Russia has shown limited interest.
The latest meeting follows visits to Moscow and Kyiv by Witkoff and Kushner last month, as US officials work on new proposals to bring both sides closer to an agreement.
However, disagreements over territory remain a major obstacle. Russia insists on controlling the entire Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, including areas still held by Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected giving up the territory, warning that it could leave his country vulnerable to future attacks.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently occupies about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.
The Miami talks are also expected to address security guarantees for Ukraine and plans for rebuilding the country’s economy after the war. Officials from Britain, France and Germany, as well as representatives of NATO and the European Union, have been invited to participate.
The renewed diplomatic effort comes amid continued Russian attacks on Ukraine. A strike on buses in the frontline city of Kramatorsk reportedly killed 30 people, adding to concerns about the impact of the war as winter approaches.
Washington is hoping to make progress towards a settlement, with discussions about broader negotiations involving Russia and Ukraine also being considered for later in October. However, the disagreements over territory and security arrangements continue to pose challenges to efforts to end the conflict.
