Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a meeting on February 20 to discuss the outcomes of the trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, the US, and Russia regarding the cessation of war. The diplomatic meetings took place on February 17 and 18 in Geneva, Switzerland.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Results of the Talks in Geneva
According to the head of state, all members of the Ukrainian negotiation team will return to Kyiv on February 19. The following day, a special meeting will be held during which delegates will report on the details of the negotiations and the next steps. Volodymyr Zelensky noted that some aspects will only be discussed in person, rather than over the phone.
“Today (February 19 – ed.) all members of our negotiation team will already be in Ukraine, and for tomorrow (February 20 – ed.) I have scheduled a special meeting with them regarding our next steps and decisions. There will be a report here in Kyiv about those aspects of the negotiations that should not be discussed over the phone,” the president said in an evening address on February 19.
The president emphasized that during this meeting, further frameworks for cooperation will be determined not only with the American side but also with European partners, as well as with Russia. Zelensky highlighted the importance of European presence in Switzerland, stressing the need to consider Europe’s position in the dialogue.
The president expressed special gratitude to the members of the Ukrainian delegation for their strict adherence to the negotiation directives. According to him, the confidence and coordination of Ukraine’s position are key to effective negotiations.
Positions of the Parties and Future Prospects
In his interview with Piers Morgan, published on February 18, Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the next round of trilateral negotiations with the US and Russia is also planned to take place in Switzerland. He did not specify an exact date but underscored the significance of the negotiation platform being on the European continent.
After the negotiations in Geneva, Zelensky noted that progress had been recorded on military issues; however, there remain “sensitive issues” in the political spheres. He remarked that the positions of the parties differ significantly, and the negotiations were challenging. Nevertheless, an agreement was reached to continue the dialogue.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that it is still too early to draw final conclusions about the results of the negotiations. The chief negotiator from Moscow, Vladimir Medinsky, described the talks as “difficult but businesslike” and confirmed that there will be further meetings.
The White House noted “significant progress” in the trilateral negotiations. According to spokesperson Caroline Levitt, the parties agreed to inform their leaders and continue working on a peace agreement. The next round of discussions will take place in the future.
The specific details of the content of the negotiations have not been disclosed by the parties.
The Geneva talks marked the third round of meetings in the past month dedicated to resolving the war between Russia and Ukraine. The main focus was on two key issues: territorial claims and security guarantees for Ukraine.
The meetings took place a week before the fourth anniversary of the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, which has resulted in nearly two million casualties on both sides, according to various estimates.
Despite US mediation, Russia shows no willingness to abandon its rigid demands, including claims to territories in Donbas. Ukraine, on the other hand, insists on receiving effective security guarantees from the US and European allies to protect against future Russian aggression.