Peace Talks in Miami: Back Trump's Push, but Make Putin Pay for Every Night of Bombing
As Russian strikes kill dozens of Ukrainian civilians, Witkoff and Kushner opened two days of talks with Kyiv and European allies in Miami on Oct. 9. In our view, America should negotiate hard while raising the cost of every attack.
By Clara Hughes
ALTAS WORLD NEWS OPINION | By Clara Hughes, Chief Opinion Editor | October 9, 2026 | 6-min read This week, a Russian attack on buses in the frontline Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk killed 30 civilians [2]. Before that, a Russian missile slammed into a five-story apartment block in the northern Chernihiv region, killing 22 people, including five children [2]. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says more than 70 people were killed in Russian strikes in two days [2]. Against that backdrop, President Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, opened talks with Ukraine's top negotiators in Miami on Friday, Oct. 9 [1][3]. The talks were scheduled to run through Saturday, and no outcome had been announced as of midday Friday in Miami [7]. In our view, Americans should back this push for peace. And the best way to get peace is to make sure Vladimir Putin pays a rising price for every night of bombing. Key Takeaways U.S. envoys Witkoff and Kushner began two days of talks with Ukrainian officials in Miami on Oct. 9, with national security advisers from Britain, France and Germany and officials from NATO and the EU invited; Russia is not taking part [1][3][4][7]. One idea on the table is a partial ceasefire halting attacks on energy infrastructure and grain shipments; Ukraine says it is