U.S. envoy reports ‘constructive’ Ukraine talks with Russia

U.S. envoy reports productive Ukraine-Russia talks in Florida ahead of crucial negotiations in Abu Dhabi to end the conflict.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said Saturday (January 31, 2026) he had held constructive talks with a Russian envoy in Florida as part of Washington's drive to end the war in Ukraine.

The meeting came just a day before Ukrainian and Russian negotiators were scheduled to meet in Abu Dhabi to discuss a U.S.-backed plan to halt the nearly four-year conflict that began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"Today in Florida, the Russian Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev held productive and constructive meetings as part of the U.S. mediation effort toward advancing a peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian conflict," Mr. Witkoff posted on X.

"We are encouraged by this meeting that Russia is working toward securing peace in Ukraine," he added.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and White House Senior Advisor Josh Gruenbaum also attended the talks, he said.

Earlier Saturday (January 31, 2026), a source close to the talks had told AFP that they had started at 8:00 a.m. (1300 GMT) and that Mr. Dmitriev had arrived in Miami.