U.S. and Ukrainian officials engaged in four hours of discussions on Sunday in Hallandale Beach, Florida, focusing on a potential peace framework to end the ongoing war with Russia. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the talks as productive but emphasized that significant work remains to be done.

"It’s not just about the terms that end fighting," Rubio stated. "It’s about also the terms that set up Ukraine for long-term prosperity. I think we build on that today, but there’s more work to be done."

The meeting included U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, alongside a Ukrainian delegation led by Rustem Umerov, the head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council. This session was seen as crucial for Ukraine's negotiators to influence Witkoff before he leads a U.S. delegation to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week.

Trump has been advocating for Ukraine to make territorial concessions to Russia as part of a peace agreement. Umerov expressed gratitude for U.S. support, stating, "U.S. is hearing us. U.S. is supporting us. U.S. is working beside us."

The discussions come at a challenging time for Ukraine, which is not only facing the Russian invasion that began in February 2022 but also dealing with a domestic corruption scandal. The Ukrainian government has been under scrutiny following allegations of embezzlement involving $100 million from the energy sector. This situation led to the resignation of Andrii Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, just days before the talks.

Rubio reassured the Ukrainian delegation, saying, "The end goal is, obviously, not just the end of the war. But it’s also about securing an end to the war that leaves Ukraine sovereign and independent and with an opportunity at real prosperity."

The negotiations are centered around a proposed 28-point peace plan that has faced criticism for being overly favorable to Russian demands. The plan initially included provisions that would limit Ukraine's military size, prevent it from joining NATO, and require elections within 100 days. However, the framework is reportedly under revision, and its specific changes remain unclear.

As the diplomatic efforts continue, violence persists. Recent Russian drone and missile strikes in Kyiv resulted in at least three fatalities and numerous injuries. Zelenskyy reported that Russia has launched nearly 1,400 strike drones and 1,100 guided bombs against Ukraine in the past week alone.

In a separate incident, Ukraine claimed responsibility for damaging an oil terminal near the Russian port of Novorossiysk, prompting Kazakhstan to urge Ukraine to cease such attacks, citing potential harm to bilateral relations.

Zelenskyy has called for reliable solutions to end the war, emphasizing the need for enhanced air defense systems and ongoing collaboration with international partners.

The outcome of the ongoing negotiations and the upcoming talks in Moscow will be closely watched as both sides seek a resolution to the conflict.