Russian economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev announced that he was leaving for Miami, where a series of talks are starting in an attempt to end the war in Ukraine, Agence France-Presse reported, BTA reported.
"On the way to Miami", Dmitriev wrote in a message on "Ex". He added an emoticon of a dove of peace and attached a short video showing the morning sun breaking through the clouds over a beach lined with palm trees.
"As the warmongers continue to work hard to undermine the American peace plan in Ukraine, I remembered this video from my previous visit: the light breaking through the clouds," he added.
Ukrainian and European teams also visited the city in the US state of Florida to participate in the talks led by Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump's special envoy, and Jared Kushner, the US president's son-in-law.
The participation of Russia and Europe in these talks marks an improvement compared to the previous phase, during which the Americans held talks in separate locations with each side, AFP recalls. However, it is unlikely that Dmitriev will hold direct talks with Ukrainian and European negotiators, against the backdrop of tense relations between the countries. Moscow argues that Europe's participation in the talks only harms the process and portrays the continent's leaders as warmongers, the agency recalls.
The talks are taking place after Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to continue his military offensive in Ukraine, hailing Moscow's successes on the battlefield nearly four years after the war began, during his annual press conference on Friday. Today, Russia said it had also captured two more villages in Sumska and Donetsk region.
Yesterday, a Russian ballistic missile killed eight people and wounded 27 near Odessa, according to local governor Oleg Kiper.
Kiev, for its part, said today that it had destroyed two Russian fighter jets at an airfield in the occupied Crimean peninsula, according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU).
Donald Trump's envoys are pushing for a plan in which the United States would offer guarantees for Ukraine's security, but which would likely require Kiev to cede some of its territory, a prospect that many Ukrainians reject.