U.S. President Donald Trump noted that the Russian Federation is eager to reach agreements to end the war in Ukraine, and in his opinion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should actively participate in this process.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Trump’s statement amid trilateral negotiations
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Donald Trump emphasized that the opportunity to reach an agreement is crucial for Ukraine, and Volodymyr Zelensky must seize this chance. According to Trump, if the Ukrainian leader does not act, he may lose this “wonderful opportunity.”
“Russia wants to reach an agreement, and Zelensky will need to act. Otherwise, he will lose a wonderful opportunity. He must act,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
This statement came against the backdrop of intensified negotiations between Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia, focused on finding a peaceful resolution to the war. Several rounds of these negotiations have already taken place in 2026.
New round of negotiations in Geneva and meeting outcomes
The Office of the President of Ukraine announced that the next round of trilateral negotiations is scheduled for February 17-18 in Geneva. The Kremlin confirmed these dates, specifying that the Russian delegation will be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who represented Russia in similar negotiations last year. During previous meetings, the Russian side rejected a ceasefire and put forward demands regarding the recognition of occupied territories and limitations on the size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Additionally, in January and February of this year, negotiations took place in Abu Dhabi (UAE) between Ukraine and Russia, mediated by the U.S., aimed at finding ways to end the war. During the meeting on February 5, the parties managed to agree on a prisoner exchange — the first such agreement in the last five months.
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff described the negotiations on February 4 and 5 as constructive, noting that they focused on creating conditions for sustainable peace and included discussions on a ceasefire.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, summarizing the negotiations on February 4, reported a reduction in the number of open questions between Ukraine and Russia regarding a future peace agreement. At the same time, he stated that the most complex issues remain, including territorial disputes that are still unresolved.