The US and Ukraine have agreed on a framework for long-term security guarantees during high-stakes Miami peace talks, marking the strongest progress yet toward ending Russia’s war. The revised 19-point plan centres on air defence and deterrence, even as Moscow rejects core terms and threatens further escalation in Donbas.
TheInterviewTimes.com | December 6, 2025: The United States and Ukraine have agreed on a framework for long-term security guarantees, marking the most tangible progress so far in peace talks aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale invasion. The breakthrough, reached in two days of closed-door negotiations in Miami, offers a blueprint for sustained military and financial support to Kyiv — but leaves the most contentious political issues unresolved as Moscow hardens its public opposition.
Security Breakthrough in Miami
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner met Ukrainian national security chief Rustem Umerov and armed forces chief General Andriy Hnatov in the Miami area for back-to-back sessions described by both sides as “constructive.”
Officials familiar with the talks say the delegations agreed on a framework of security arrangements intended to support a “durable and just peace” and embed deterrence against any future Russian assault.
Negotiators will return for a third round of discussions on Saturday. Washington has emphasized that progress toward a final peace accord depends on Russia’s willingness to halt attacks and commit to measurable de-escalation — a condition the Kremlin shows no sign of accepting.
Kyiv has reiterated that independence, sovereignty, and civilian safety remain its bottom-line prerequisites in any settlement.
Readout of Meeting Between Special Envoy for Peace Steven Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Ukrainian Secretary of National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov, and Chief of General Staff General Andriy Hnatov
— Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (@SEPeaceMissions) December 5, 2025
Over two days, Special Envoy for Peace Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner…
Core Focus on Long-Term Guarantees
Though detailed texts remain confidential, officials say the emerging framework centers on long-term US support, including:
- Advanced air-defence systems
- Artillery and precision-strike capabilities
- Financial assistance and multi-year deterrence planning
The objective is to create a binding US security umbrella that would make any renewed Russian offensive costlier and strategically unfeasible.
European leaders, initially alarmed by early drafts of a broader US plan, have warned President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to accept Russian terms that risk undermining Ukraine’s security. NATO foreign ministers reaffirmed commitments this week to continue supplying air-defence systems and high-end military technologies, framing the Miami package as critical leverage for future negotiations on front lines or territorial status.
From 28 Points to 19
The Miami process is now anchored in a reshaped 19-point peace plan, significantly reduced from a controversial 28-point draft leaked in November. That earlier version, reportedly influenced by Russian proposals, sparked outrage across Kyiv and European capitals for appearing to reflect Kremlin positions on sanctions relief, military restrictions, and Western defence ties.
Following emergency US-European-Ukrainian consultations in Geneva and Brussels, negotiators removed nearly all non-ceasefire elements. The trimmed plan focuses solely on:
- Halting active hostilities
- Deploying monitoring mechanisms
- Outlining reconstruction and humanitarian arrangements
The most sensitive issues — territorial boundaries, political status of occupied regions, and Ukraine’s future NATO membership — have been deliberately held back for potential direct Trump–Zelenskyy talks.
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Moscow Rejects Core Framework
The progress in Miami comes as Russia escalates both its rhetoric and military operations. Speaking to Indian media ahead of his New Delhi visit, President Vladimir Putin declared that some components of the US peace architecture were “unacceptable” and warned that Russian forces would seize the remaining parts of Donbas by force unless Ukrainian troops withdraw.
The Kremlin continues to demand:
- Legal recognition of Russia’s territorial claims
- Binding guarantees that Ukraine will never join NATO
Both conditions remain non-starters for Kyiv and its Western partners.
Russian officials have also threatened additional Black Sea restrictions, linking them to continued Ukrainian drone and missile operations deep inside Russian territory.
Europe Uneasy — and Largely Sidelined
The exclusive US-Ukraine negotiation channel has caused visible unease in Paris, Berlin, and Brussels, where leaders argue they have been sidelined despite bearing the bulk of economic and security costs.
French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen have warned that a deal negotiated without Europe risks fracturing Western unity and leaving Kyiv exposed to future Russian coercion.
In response, Brussels has circulated its own 24-point initiative, maintaining maximalist positions — including no recognition of Russian territorial gains and long-term NATO deployments inside Ukraine. Moscow views these terms as wholly unacceptable, creating a multi-layered diplomatic landscape in which EU, US, and Ukrainian priorities increasingly diverge.
What Comes Next
Negotiators in Miami are expected to spend the coming days developing:
- Timelines and milestones
- Verification and monitoring mechanisms
- Conditional sanctions triggers
- Roadmaps for phased implementation
But officials acknowledge that without a major shift in Russia’s position, the talks will remain preparatory rather than decisive.
Zelenskyy faces mounting domestic pressure to avoid any settlement perceived as capitulation. Trump, meanwhile, is under scrutiny for relying heavily on non-traditional envoys and for allegedly seeking a rapid diplomatic win ahead of key political timelines.
With fighting ongoing and Moscow escalating its warnings, the emerging security guarantees framework is being viewed simultaneously as a potential stepping stone to peace and a hedge against diplomatic failure.
Key Takeaways
- US and Ukraine reached a framework for long-term security guarantees during Miami talks.
- The deal focuses on air defence, artillery, and deterrence, not political concessions.
- The original 28-point peace plan has been cut to 19 points after European backlash.
- Russia rejects the framework and threatens to expand operations in Donbas.
- Europe fears being sidelined, deepening divides within the Western coalition.