The Office of the President of Ukraine has dismissed reports of President Volodymyr Zelensky allegedly discussing preparations for another three years of war and the failure of peace negotiations with advisors. State advisor Dmytro Lytvyn emphasized during a conversation with journalists on February 20 that such a meeting and negative assessments of the negotiations did not take place, and the circulated information is false.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“This is simply a fake.”
Context Surrounding Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia Negotiations
Rumors arose following statements by Wall Street Journal journalist Boyan Panchevski, who reported in Paul Ronzheimer’s podcast about an alleged closed meeting between the president and advisors, during which, according to him, Zelensky spoke about the failure of negotiations and the need to develop a plan for “another three years of war.” The journalist did not provide a source for this information. Such reports were actively disseminated by Russian media.
The information began to spread against the backdrop of the conclusion of another round of trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia regarding the cessation of hostilities. President Zelensky, commenting on the outcomes of these meetings, noted that he would hold a meeting on February 20 with members of the Ukrainian delegation who returned to Kyiv.
Key Aspects of the Negotiations and Expectations
In an interview with Piers Morgan, released on February 18, Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the next round of trilateral negotiations with the U.S. and Russia regarding the end of the war is planned to take place again in Switzerland. The president did not specify the date of the negotiations but emphasized the importance of organizing them in Europe.
After the negotiations in Geneva, Zelensky highlighted that some progress had been made on military issues, while “sensitive questions” remain in the political sphere. The president added that final details would be known after the return of the Ukrainian delegation.
For his part, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that it is still too early to assess the results of the negotiations. The chief negotiator of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, also characterized the meetings as “difficult but businesslike,” adding that further consultations will continue.
The White House emphasized that “significant progress” was made during the trilateral negotiations. Spokesperson Caroline Levitt reported that the parties agreed to brief leaders on the outcomes of the meetings and continue working on a peace agreement.
Details of the discussions remain undisclosed. The negotiations in Geneva, which took place on February 17-18, marked the third round in the past month and focused on issues of territorial claims and security guarantees.
The meetings occurred just before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, which has resulted in the deaths or injuries of about two million people on both sides.
Despite U.S. mediation efforts, Russia shows no willingness to make concessions, continuing to insist on Ukraine’s abandonment of Donbas. The Ukrainian side, in turn, demands reliable security guarantees from the U.S. and European partners to protect against new aggression.
At the same time, according to estimates from leaders of five European intelligence services, the likelihood of reaching a peace agreement by 2026 remains low. Four of them believe that the Kremlin is using negotiations to exert pressure for easing sanctions and establishing trade agreements. One of the interlocutors described the negotiations in Geneva as a “theatrical performance.”