Florida Sessions Bring U.S., Ukraine Closer Yet Unfinished On December 6, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Jared Kushner met Ukrainian security council head Rustem Umerov and armed‑forces chief Andriy Hnatov at the Shell Bay Club in Hallandale Beach for a fourth‑hour session, following similar meetings on November 30 and December 1 [1][3][4]. All outlets describe the talks as “productive” but stress that key issues—especially territorial concessions and long‑term security guarantees—remain unresolved [1][3][4][5]. The participants reviewed deterrence capabilities, a proposed Ukraine Development Fund, and post‑war reconstruction projects, signaling a shift from pure cease‑fire language to broader prosperity planning [1][3]. European leaders, notably French President Emmanuel Macron, reiterated the need for guarantees that Russia will not re‑attack Ukraine [1].

Revised U.S. Peace Blueprint Stalls Over Territory The United States is advancing a revised version of former President Trump’s peace plan, which adds economic‑infrastructure investments such as AI data centers and natural‑gas pipeline rebuilding [3][2]. Ukraine’s leadership, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has repeatedly rejected any land‑cession, insisting that NATO membership is non‑negotiable [2][4]. Putin has indicated the proposal could serve as a “basis” for future agreements but demands Ukraine withdraw from the four regions annexed in 2022, threatening force if the demand is ignored [2][5]. NATO and EU officials are concurrently debating the use of frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction, a point highlighted in the revised plan [2].

Moscow Meeting Planned Amid Russian Demands Steve Witkoff is scheduled to travel to Moscow within days to meet President Vladimir Putin, with Kushner possibly accompanying him, aiming to test the revised framework against Russian expectations [1][2][5]. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the meeting, and Putin framed the U.S. proposal as a starting point while insisting on Ukraine’s withdrawal from annexed territories [2][5]. The upcoming dialogue occurs as both sides assess each other’s “serious commitment” to long‑term peace, a condition emphasized by U.S. and Ukrainian officials [1]. European diplomats are urging China’s support for the process, reflecting broader geopolitical stakes [1].

Hostilities Persist as Diplomatic Efforts Continue Despite the diplomatic momentum, Russian drone and missile strikes killed civilians in central Ukraine, including a 12‑year‑old boy, while Ukrainian drones hit a Russian port and oil refinery [1][3][4]. These attacks underscore that fighting continues even as negotiations proceed, reinforcing the urgency expressed by both U.S. and Ukrainian leaders to secure a durable cease‑fire [1][3]. The humanitarian toll remains severe, with at least seven million people displaced since the invasion began in February 2022 [4]. Ongoing violence adds pressure on negotiators to translate “productive” talks into concrete security guarantees.