Trump's team reports concrete progress in Ukraine peace negotiations with European partners

Russia only understands power, says Finnish President Stubb Finnish President Alexander Stubb discusses efforts to end Russia's war in Ukraine, Moscow's economic troubles and violations of NATO airspace on 'Special Report.' U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said talks in Florida between American, Ukrainian and European officials have produced concrete progress toward a structured peace framework, fueling signs that negotiations to end Russia’s war in Ukraine may be entering a decisive phase. "Over the last three days in Florida, the Ukrainian delegation held a series of productive and constructive meetings with American and European partners," Witkoff wrote on X. "The Ukrainian delegation included Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, and the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Andriy Hnatov." The American delegation included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and White House staff member Josh Gruenbaum, alongside key national security advisors from Europe. "A separate constructive meeting was also held in a U.S.-Ukraine format, during which four key documents were focused on: further development of a 20-point plan, aligning positions on a Multilateral security guarantee framework, aligning positions on a US Security guarantee framework for Ukraine, and further development on an economic & prosperity plan," Witkoff said. "Particular attention was given to discussing timelines and the sequencing of next steps. MOMENTUM BUILDS IN UKRAINE PEACE PUSH, BUT EXPERTS FEAR PUTIN WON’T BUDGE "Ukraine remains fully committed to achieving a just and sustainable peace," he continued. "Our shared priority is to stop the killing, ensure guaranteed security, and create conditions for Ukraine’s recovery, stability, and long-term prosperity. Peace must be not only a cessation of hostilities, but also a dignified foundation for a stable future. "Ukraine highly values the leadership and support of the United States and the continued close coordination with its partners in the next stages of this important work," Witkoff concluded. The special envoy’s comments come after Finland President Alexander Stubb said Sunday that negotiators are closer than at any point during the war to securing a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, crediting U.S. diplomacy and pressure from sanctions on Russian oil as talks enter what he described as their most difficult final stage. PUTIN CALLS TRUMP’S PEACE PLAN A ‘STARTING POINT’ AS HE WARNS UKRAINE TO PULL BACK OR FACE 'FORCE' Steve Witkoff reported significant progress in the peace talks. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images) "We’re probably closer [to reaching a peace agreement] than we have been at any time of this war," Stubb said on " The Sunday Briefing ." He added that Kushner and Witkoff have spent the past several weeks "working around the clock" to narrow differences between the two sides. Stubb also credited unity between Western allies after talks last weekend in Berlin, making note of two key takeaways. Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Italian...

Preview: ~500 words