Ukraine sends new delegation to Florida for productive US peace talks

Formal peace talks between the United States and Ukraine on ending the Ukrainian war moved into a productive phase on Sunday — but only after President Zelensky sent in a new-look team. To FloridaAccording to a former Ukrainian government official.

With Rustam Omerov now out of Zelensky’s team and his advisor and chief of staff Andriy Ermak, the source claimed the move indicates Kiev is reevaluating its “hardening” stance.

The official, who spoke to Fox News Digital on the condition of anonymity, said the staff selection represents a departure from the approach that has shaped Ukraine’s diplomatic strategy for years.

“Yermak has been teaching Zelensky how to be the ‘Father of the Nation,’ and until now, the Ukrainian side has been pushing for an unachievable and uncompromising stance,” the former official said.

Momentum is building in Ukraine’s peace efforts, but experts fear Putin will not budge

Ukrainian officials, from left to right; Andrey Hnatov, Chief of the General Staff, Vadim Skibitsky, Deputy Chief of Defense Intelligence, and Rustam Omerov, Minister of National Security, during a meeting with US officials Sunday, November 30, 2025, in Hallandale Beach, Florida. (Terry Reyna/AP Photo)

“Umarov is not an impressively strong person in politics, but he wants to achieve results and is known to be compromising.”

The new Ukrainian delegation also includes Andriy Hnatov, Commander of the Armed Forces; Andrej Sepha, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Umarov, who heads the country’s Security Council.

After the meeting, Omeroff gave a brief assessment to reporters, saying: “We are grateful to the American people, the American leadership and the wonderful team with Secretary of State Steve, and with all of Jared Kushner for their tremendous work with us.”

“Our goal is for Ukraine to be prosperous and strong. And we will do that,” he added [be] discussion [sic] The future of Ukraine. We discussed all important matters that concern Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. The United States has been very supportive.”

“We have already had a successful meeting in Geneva, and today we can continue this success. So, for now, this meeting has been fruitful and successful in the later stages.”

Momentum is building in Ukraine’s peace efforts, but experts fear Putin will not budge

The new team traveled to Florida for discussions aimed at improving the framework proposed by President Trump and his efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Negotiations also took place on Sunday after a leak published by Bloomberg News revealed the text of a call held on October 14 with the special envoy. Steve Witkoff He allegedly advised Russian officials on how to convince Trump of the peace plan.

“The Ukrainian side has in some way undermined the peace negotiations and Donald Trump’s efforts, not to mention that it is prolonging the war,” the former official said.

Ukrainian official Yermak resigns as corruption investigation surrounds Zelensky

Chief of Staff of Ukrainian President Andriy Yermak, left, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speak to the press as their consultations continue at the US Mission to international organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, Sunday, November 23, 2025. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)

The same former official said that the shift in the Kiev delegation came after Yermak’s dramatic resignation afterwards Anti-corruption investigators Their house was raided on Friday.

The source added, “Yermak was subject to great distrust by many parties, including Western parties, including the American administration, including the Biden administration.”

Despite his exit, the official warned that Yermak’s influence may still shape the Ukrainian team.

“Mr. Yermack is still there, and in fact, the whole delegation that came to Florida included Mr. Yermack’s people, his loyal people, those close to him personally – people who [have] “I have served him loyally for many years.”

They added, “Yermak has not disappeared and may be on the phone or on the Internet and controlling the agenda behind the scenes.”

Rubio and Witkoff meet with Ukrainian officials to press for the deal to be completed after Zelensky’s chief negotiator resigned.

Minister of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustam Umarov and Secretary of State Marco Rubio embrace after a meeting on Sunday, November 30, 2025 in Hallandale Beach, Florida. (Terry Reyna/AP Photo)

They said that Yermak’s long-term governance style continues to influence the political situation in Kiev:

“In Ukraine, as in many post-Soviet countries, there is still the so-called ‘telephone rule’, when a powerful person is able to influence the outcome of any official decision-making process despite his lack of formal powers and in contravention of the law.”

“Yermak has been doing this for the past six and a half years,” the source added.

Minister of State Marco RubioWitkoff and Senior Advisor Jared Kushner chaired the American side in Sunday’s session.

“We had another very productive session,” Rubio told reporters after the meeting. “Based on Geneva, based on the events of this week.”

Zelensky warns Ukraine faces a ‘difficult choice’ as US peace plan faces major hurdle

White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Jared Kushner listen as Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Minister Rustam Omerov speaks while leading the Ukrainian delegation during a meeting in Hallandale Beach, Florida, on November 30, 2025. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)

He continued: “As I told you earlier this morning, our goal here is to end the war.” “But it’s more than just ending the war. We don’t just want to end the war. We also want to help Ukraine be safe forever. So they will never face another invasion again. And just as important, we want them to enter an era of true prosperity.”

Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday that he had spoken to Rubio and Witkoff and that they were “doing well.”

“Ukraine has some tough little problems,” Trump said. “They have some difficult problems. But I think Russia would like to see the end of it and I think Ukraine… I know Ukraine would like to see the end of it.”

He also said he believed there was a “good chance of reaching an agreement.”

In a post shared on X, Zelensky highlighted Omerov’s work in Florida as head of the Ukrainian delegation.

He said, “Today, after the teams worked in the United States, the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustam Umarov, presented a report on the main features of the dialogue, its focus points, and some preliminary results.”

“It is important that the talks have a constructive dynamic and that all issues are discussed openly and with a clear focus on ensuring Ukraine’s sovereignty and national interests. I am grateful to the United States, to President Trump’s team, and to the President personally for the time being invested so extensively in identifying the steps needed to end the war. We will continue to work. I look forward to receiving a full report from our team during an in-person meeting.”

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Sunday’s talks came just hours after another fatal accident Russian strike At least one person was killed and 19 others injured, including four children, in Kiev, Euronews reported.

Since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, the war has left vast areas of Ukraine devastated, and about 20% of its territory under occupation.