A new round of trilateral negotiations between the delegations of Ukraine, the USA, and Russia has begun in Geneva. This was reported by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov, who noted that the Ukrainian side is operating within a clearly defined mandate and agreed frameworks with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Main Agenda Items
According to Umerov, during the meetings in Geneva, the parties are discussing key issues of security and humanitarian aid. He specifically emphasized a pragmatic approach to the negotiations, highlighting the absence of inflated expectations while also stressing the importance of decisions that could contribute to establishing sustainable peace for Ukraine.
“We are working constructively, focused, and without unnecessary expectations. Our task is to advance those decisions that can bring us closer to lasting peace.”
Earlier in Munich, Rustem Umerov reported that the agenda for the upcoming negotiations in Geneva will include discussions on an energy truce. The Kremlin, for its part, stated that significant results should not be expected from the first day of consultations.
Preconditions for Negotiations and Previous Meetings
The trilateral format of negotiations in Geneva is scheduled for February 17-18. It is expected that representatives from Ukraine, the USA, and the Russian Federation will discuss ways to end the war that Russia is waging against Ukraine. The Ukrainian delegation arrived in Switzerland the evening before. The negotiations are taking place against the backdrop of a large-scale attack by Russia: on the night of February 17, the aggressor country launched 29 missiles at Ukraine and deployed 396 strike drones.
Prior to this, on January 23-24 and February 4-5, preliminary rounds of negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia, and the USA were held in Abu Dhabi (UAE). Despite the lack of breakthroughs regarding the cessation of hostilities, during the meeting on February 5, the parties reached an agreement on the exchange of prisoners of war, which became the first such decision in the last five months.
The Special Envoy of the US President, Steve Witkoff, characterized the negotiations on February 4-5 as constructive and focused on creating conditions for lasting peace. Among the topics discussed was the issue of a ceasefire.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reported after the negotiations on February 4 that the number of contentious issues between Ukraine and Russia in the context of a future peace agreement had decreased, but acknowledged that the “most difficult” points remain. Earlier, Rubio emphasized that the key unresolved issue remains the territorial question.
In January, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the so-called “territorial question” within the framework of the “Anchorage Formula” holds particular importance for Russia, although the details of this formula are not disclosed.