U.S. and Ukrainian officials held what both sides called productive talks on Sunday about a Russia peace deal, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing optimism about progress despite challenges to ending the more than 3-year-old war.

Rubio met with a Ukrainian delegation led by a new chief negotiator in Florida, his home state, for talks that he said were meant to create a pathway for Ukraine to remain sovereign and independent.

¡°We continue to be realistic about how difficult this is, but optimistic, particularly given the fact that as we¡¯ve made progress, I think there is a shared vision here that this is not just about ending the war,¡± Rubio told reporters after the talks concluded. ¡°It is about securing Ukraine¡¯s future, a future that we hope will be more prosperous than it¡¯s ever been.¡±