CNN is shedding light on a dinner that took place Sunday at the Witkoff Group's private Shell Bay club in South Florida, where U.S. and Ukrainian delegations met to discuss ways to end the war with Russia. The talks were reportedly "difficult but very constructive," as attendees enjoyed Ukrainian borscht and Holubtsi — traditional meat and cabbage rolls that were seen as a diplomatic gesture respectful of Ukrainian culture.

A CNN source familiar with the talks said the meeting represented a "step forward" after the first round of negotiations in Geneva. However, no agreement has yet been reached, as many sensitive issues remain to be discussed.

One of the main points of discussion was the clause in the US peace proposal, which required Ukraine to give up its ambition to join NATO – a key Russian demand, still rejected by Ukrainian authorities. Source CNN reported that a possible scenario is being considered where Ukraine could be practically excluded from joining NATO, without being officially forced to give up its aspirations.

Another problematic issue is the Kremlin's demand for control over the Donbas region, where the US is proposing options for a demilitarized zone that does not weaken Ukraine's security. The CNN source warned that the possible options are very sensitive and discussions are proceeding cautiously.

Meanwhile, the biggest challenge for American diplomacy remains convincing Russia to accept compromise solutions, as negotiations between the US, Ukraine, and Moscow continue in an effort to reach a lasting peace agreement.