Trump's envoys helpless as Putin demands everything, peace talks turn into Zelensky's nightmare

The latest U.S.-mediated talks aimed at ending the Ukraine war seem to have entered a critical stage, with American envoys and Ukraine’s top negotiator holding multiple rounds of discussions in Miami while assessing signals from President Putin following their December 3 meeting in Moscow. A U.S. State Department readout said progress now depends on Russia’s readiness to de-escalate and commit to a long-term peace framework. Territorial control in eastern Ukraine remains a key obstacle, as Moscow and Kyiv maintain sharply different positions. Both sides also reviewed future security arrangements, post-war reconstruction plans, and joint U.S.–Ukraine economic initiatives ahead of the next round of talks.