U.S. and Ukrainian officials to meet in Miami to negotiate drone agreement

U.S. and Ukrainian officials to meet in Miami to negotiate drone agreement
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacts during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets at 10 Downing Street, in London, Britain, 17 March, 2026.
Reuters

U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators will hold talks in Miami on Saturday that could lay the groundwork for another meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a source familiar with the matter said.

Zelenskyy told reporters on Friday that U.S. and Ukrainian working groups would focus on bilateral agreements and discuss a wide-ranging drone deal during the weekend meeting.

Ukraine, eager to capitalise on its expertise in defending against Russian drone attacks, is also seeking to finalise agreements with eight Middle Eastern countries as the U.S.-Israel war with Iran escalates, the source said.

Ukraine expands drone cooperation in Middle East

Zelenskyy told reporters Kyiv has deployed 228 specialists to help Middle Eastern countries with drone defence, and is working with Middle Eastern leaders to sign "serious agreements," but gave no details.

The talks in Miami were initially planned to include Russian negotiators and take place in Abu Dhabi, focusing on efforts to find a settlement to the war triggered by Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The trilateral meeting in the United Arab Emirates was postponed after the outbreak of the Iran conflict on 28 February.  The White House did not immediately comment on the weekend meeting.

U.S. delegation led by Witkoff and Kushner

Washington's negotiating team will be led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, the source said.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine would send his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, along with deputy foreign minister Serhiy Kyslytsia and parliamentary faction leader Davyd Arakhamia.

Ukraine has expressed concern to U.S. officials about Washington's moves to temporarily lift sanctions on Russia's oil sales as oil prices have surged during the Iran war, the source said. 

Kyiv is also eager to keep purchasing U.S. weapons despite Washington's focus on the Middle East and what it sees as a "moment of complete uncertainty," the source said.

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