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• Analysis
Ukraine war talks in Miami turn to security guarantees, energy and EU accession
US, Ukrainian and European officials held Ukraine war talks in Miami on Friday to seek a common proposal to end Russia's war, with envoy Steve Witkoff citing discussions of potential de-escalation ahead of winter.
By Haut Monde Post
• October 10, 2026
• 3 Min Read
What the Miami discussions covered
US, Ukrainian and European negotiators held talks in Miami on Friday to seek a common proposal to end the war in Ukraine. Witkoff described the session on X as "constructive discussions" that explored "potential avenues to de-escalate and conclude the war with Russia ahead of winter and advance efforts toward a durable and lasting peace".
According to his post, the table brought together the E3, the European Commission, Ukraine and NATO.
The agenda he listed covered:
- •energy resilience and grain exports
- •security guarantees and longer-term arrangements for Ukraine's and Europe's security to prevent future conflict
- •support for Ukraine's post-war reconstruction and economic prosperity, including EU accession, which Witkoff called a "productive" exchange
"potential avenues to de-escalate and conclude the war with Russia ahead of winter and advance efforts toward a durable and lasting peace"
The meeting followed visits to Moscow and Kyiv last month by Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, and a source familiar with the discussions said US negotiators have since been developing fresh proposals with Russian and Ukrainian officials. Axios reported that Witkoff and Kushner briefed President Donald Trump on those proposals on Thursday, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also present.
Rubio's warning of an explosive impasse
The day before the Miami session, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in Lisbon that the conflict had reached a potentially explosive impasse, with the failure to reach a negotiated settlement raising the risk of further escalation. Stalemates, he said, can also end through escalation, and the war could spread to neighboring NATO countries. He added: "We do not believe that there is a military solution to this conflict".
The diesel deal in the background
The talks were overshadowed by Trump's announcement of a deal with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to boost diesel supplies. After a Friday telephone call with Putin, Trump said Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel to US and global markets, with another 500,000 tons to follow in November. The US Treasury Department said it was issuing a temporary license to allow Russian diesel to flow to global markets.
It was not immediately clear whether Trump and Putin discussed Ukraine during their call. Trump has blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries for surging fuel prices, although the US-Israeli war with Iran has been the principal disruptor of global energy supplies.
Sticking points and next steps
Trump's efforts to end the war have foundered over Moscow's demand to control all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas territory, including areas still held by Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected surrendering Ukrainian-held territory, warning that Russia could use it as a springboard for another attack. Russia, which launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, now occupies roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.
The US administration hopes to make diplomatic headway before November's midterm elections and seeks broader talks involving Russia and Ukraine later this month. Witkoff did not say if the parties would meet on Saturday as originally planned, and the Kremlin has signaled three-way negotiations could resume in October, although no date has been announced.
