US, Ukraine Hold Ceasefire Talks for Third Straight Day: "Substantive Progress Depends on Russia"

The US and Ukrainian delegations, who are discussing ways to end the Russia-Ukraine war and establish a postwar security framework, will sit down at the negotiating table for the third consecutive day. However, both sides maintain that any substantive progress toward a ceasefire agreement depends entirely on Russia's stance.

According to the Associated Press and the BBC on December 5 (local time), the US and Ukrainian negotiating teams, who have been holding talks in Florida for two days since December 4, have agreed to continue discussions on Sunday, December 6.

On November 30, the US and Ukrainian delegations discussed a ceasefire proposal in Florida. Photo by Yonhap News.

Steve Witkoff, special envoy of US President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, and Andriy Khnatov, Chief of the General Staff, issued a statement after the second day of talks.

Both sides stated, "They agreed that substantive progress toward an agreement depends on whether Russia is prepared to demonstrate a serious commitment to long-term peace, including measures to de-escalate tensions and halt the violence."

They also explained, "A separate agenda for future prosperity was reviewed to support Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction and to advance US-Ukraine joint economic initiatives and long-term recovery projects."

It was also reported that the two sides discussed the framework of security measures and deterrence needed for Ukraine to maintain 'sustainable peace.' Both sides emphasized that "a ceasefire agreement is necessary to realize Ukraine’s comprehensive redevelopment plan, which is designed to prevent new aggression and make the country stronger and more prosperous than before the war."

This round of talks took place immediately after Special Envoy Witkoff and Kushner held ceasefire negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on December 2. At that meeting, President Putin expressed only partial willingness to accept the US-proposed ceasefire plan and postponed a final decision, resulting in no tangible outcome.

To achieve a ceasefire, Russia and Ukraine must reach an agreement on key issues, including the status of Ukrainian territories occupied by Russian forces and security guarantees for Ukraine.