Tough Issues On Russia-Ukraine Need To Be Resolved, Says Zelenskyy After Florida Talks

Tough issues are yet to be resolved, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a day after US-Ukrainian talks in Florida.
“There are some tough issues that still have to be worked through. It will be a very substantive day,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X on Monday. On Monday, he reached Paris for support from French President Emmanuel Macron. He will visit Ireland on Tuesday.
According to Reuters, Macron – who has been hosting talks to send a European-led “reassurance force” to Ukraine after the war that would be barred by the initial US-backed plan – patted Zelenskiy on the back on the Elysee Palace steps before the two went inside.

Le travail pour la paix se poursuit.
The work for peace continues.
???? pic.twitter.com/31OgcnrO2s
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 1, 2025

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday hosted a Ukrainian delegation in Florida, where discussions focused on a revised peace framework and Ukraine’s long-term security needs.
The meeting, held in Hallandale Beach, brought together national security council secretary Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s newly appointed chief negotiator, alongside President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and the former president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Witkoff will be meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday.
Sunday’s talks follow two weeks of intense diplomacy triggered by the leak of a 28-point US peace plan which alarmed Ukraine and several European allies for appearing overly favourable to Russia. The controversy pushed Washington to reaffirm that any agreement must safeguard Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Rubio underscored this commitment, telling the Ukrainian delegation that peace must not only end the fighting but also “set up Ukraine for long-term prosperity”. He acknowledged progress but stressed the need for continued discussions.
President Trump, speaking separately aboard Air Force One, said negotiations were “going along well” and expressed optimism about the possibility of a deal.