Ukrainian officials hold high-stakes US talks on security and recovery

A senior Ukrainian delegation has arrived in Miami to negotiate security guarantees and a post-war reconstruction package with top US officials, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Potential agreement signing could occur at the upcoming Davos forum.

A high-level Ukrainian delegation landed in the United States on Saturday for critical negotiations aimed at securing long-term security guarantees and a framework for post-war recovery. The talks represent a significant diplomatic effort to lock in American support as the conflict continues, with meetings scheduled in Miami involving key figures from the Trump administration.

Key participants and the agenda in Miami

The Ukrainian team is led by Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, and includes Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and parliamentary leader Davyd Arakhamia. They are set to meet with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, senior advisor Jared Kushner, and Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll. Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Olha Stefanishyna stated the Miami visit aims to "refine these agreements with American partners," focusing on the specifics of a potential peace settlement and the massive economic aid needed for reconstruction.

Zelenskyy's hopes for clarity and a Davos signing

Speaking in Kyiv alongside Czech President Petr Pavel on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope the talks would bring "more clarity" on prepared documents and Russia's response to ongoing diplomacy. He raised the possibility of a formal signing ceremony, stating, "If everything is finalized, if there is acceptance from the American side, ... then signing will be possible during Davos." This references the World Economic Forum annual meeting scheduled for January 19-23 in Switzerland, a high-profile venue for such an announcement.

Context and implications for the conflict's trajectory

These discussions occur amid a fluid battlefield situation and shifting international diplomacy. The U.S., under the Trump administration, has pursued a more direct, bilateral negotiation track with Moscow, often bypassing traditional European allies. For Türkiye, a nation that has consistently advocated for a diplomatic end to the war and positioned itself as a mediator, the outcome of these U.S.-Ukraine talks is pivotal. Any agreement must balance the imperative of Ukrainian sovereignty and security with the broader need for a stable European order, principles that Türkiye upholds as essential for regional and global security.