President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the adoption of “updated directives” for the Ukrainian negotiating team participating in dialogue with the United States and the Russian Federation. The head of state reported this in a recent video address following a briefing by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council and the head of the Ukrainian delegation in the negotiations, Rustem Umerov.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Preparation for a New Trilateral Format
Zelensky noted that after meetings this week with representatives of President Donald Trump, the discussions primarily focused on economic issues and reconstruction prospects. According to him, Ukraine is actively preparing for a new trilateral format of negotiations involving the United States and Russia, although the exact date and location of the next meeting will depend on the security situation and diplomatic opportunities.
“I was briefed by Rustem Umerov after meetings this week with representatives of President Trump. We discussed the main outcomes of the meetings in Geneva, mainly regarding economic issues and reconstruction. We continue to prepare for the trilateral format, whenever that may be,” the president said.
Previously, the president suggested that the next trilateral meeting could take place in early March in Abu Dhabi.
Key Points of Dialogue and Positions of the Parties
Several rounds of trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia regarding the cessation of hostilities have already taken place in January and February of this year. Despite this, the parties have not officially reported any specific agreements. It is known that during the meeting on February 5, an agreement was reached regarding the first prisoner exchange in five months.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Stephen Witkoff, stated in a recent interview that he expects positive news in the coming weeks. He also did not rule out the possibility of a meeting between Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, the U.S. president urged Ukraine to “quickly come to the negotiating table” before the talks in Geneva, emphasizing that, in his opinion, Russia seeks to reach an agreement regarding the war in Ukraine.
Despite diplomatic efforts, Russia has not shown a willingness to compromise on its demands, which include Ukraine’s renunciation of territories in Donbas. Analysts note that the Kremlin does not agree to Western security guarantees for Ukraine and maintains maximalist goals, not limiting itself to issues of territorial concessions.
The Ukrainian side insists on receiving strong security guarantees from the U.S. and European partners to protect the country from future aggression by the Russian Federation.