US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have produced results, but emphasised that further efforts are required to secure a lasting settlement.

The Florida talks were attended by Ukraine’s newly appointed chief negotiator, Rustam Umerov, who assumed the role following the resignation of his predecessor, Andriy Yermak, after a counter-terrorism raid on his residence.

US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner were also present. Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow next week for follow-up discussions.

Sunday’s meeting marks a step in a tense diplomatic process ongoing for the past two weeks, triggered by the leak of a 28-point US peace proposal. The plan, widely viewed as favourable to Russia, drew criticism from Ukraine and its European partners nearly four years after the invasion began.

Rubio said the negotiations were focused not only on ending the conflict but also on securing Ukraine’s long-term prosperity. “I think we’ve done that today, but there’s still a lot of work to be done,” he added, summarising the outcome of the talks.