The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, announced the conclusion of the first day of trilateral talks in Geneva, which began on February 17. According to him, after the joint part of the negotiations, the participants continued their work in specialized groups, focusing on practical aspects and mechanisms for possible solutions.
This is reported by Kyiv24
First Day of Negotiations: Details and Key Issues
Umerov reported that the political and military blocks completed their work at the end of the day. The Secretary of the NSDC thanked the U.S. delegation for their constructive cooperation and willingness to work at an intensive pace.
“A report on the results of the first day of negotiations in Geneva will be presented to the President of Ukraine today. Tomorrow morning, the political and military groups will continue their work.”
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that he is awaiting a report from the Ukrainian delegation on the outcomes of the first round of negotiations in Geneva. He emphasized the need to raise the issue of the recent large-scale attack by the Russian Federation on Ukraine at the meeting. According to Zelensky, the Ukrainian side must focus on these missile strikes, especially in front of American representatives who have called on both sides to refrain from aggression.
Ukraine Ready for Peace Agreement, but Doubts Russia’s Readiness
The President emphasized that Ukraine is prepared to take swift and decisive steps to achieve a fair agreement to end the war. However, the question remains whether the Russian Federation is ready for this. Zelensky also noted that Russia’s further actions, including the use of kamikaze drones, missiles, and rhetoric on historical topics, indicate a preference for aggression over genuine diplomatic efforts and a desire for lasting peace.
Media previously reported the completion of the political block of negotiations in Geneva on the first day. The day before, during a speech at a conference in Munich, Rustem Umerov, without revealing details, mentioned that Ukraine plans to initiate the topic of an energy truce at these talks. The Kremlin, for its part, stated that no news should be expected after the first day of meetings.
The negotiations in Geneva are taking place on February 17 and 18 with the participation of representatives from Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia, focusing on ways to end Russian aggression. The Ukrainian delegation arrived in Switzerland the evening before. The talks are occurring against the backdrop of a large-scale attack by Russia, which launched 29 missile strikes on Ukraine and used 396 strike drones on the night of February 17.