Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a detailed dialogue with the Ukrainian delegation following the third round of tripartite negotiations in Geneva, which took place on February 17–18. The talks focused on resolving key issues hindering the cessation of Russia’s war against Ukraine, specifically territorial claims and security guarantees.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Ceasefire Monitoring and Prisoner Exchange Issues
Zelensky emphasized the constructive atmosphere that prevailed in the military subgroup and noted that the parties reached important agreements regarding the monitoring of a potential ceasefire. According to him, the American side will be responsible for overseeing compliance with the ceasefire regime and will act as the coordinator in this process.
“First, I would like to point out that in the military subgroup, I believe there is constructiveness. All three parties acknowledged that if there is an end to the war and a ceasefire, the monitoring of the ceasefire will primarily be handled by the Americans. They will be leading in this direction. I think this is a very important result that the team has brought today.”
In the humanitarian direction of the political subgroup, the issue of prisoner exchanges was discussed. The President noted that details regarding the number of individuals and the timing of the exchange of prisoners of war between Ukraine and Russia could be determined in the coming days. At the same time, he emphasized that positive results in this area have not yet been achieved, but there is some progress in finding constructive solutions.
Challenges on the Political Track and Future Prospects
According to the head of state, there is less constructiveness observed in the political subgroup, especially regarding issues related to Donbas and territorial integrity. To date, the parties have not been able to find acceptable solutions to these issues, and the Russian Federation shows no willingness to soften its demands, particularly regarding Ukraine’s relinquishment of control over certain territories.
Ukraine insists on receiving effective security guarantees from the U.S. and European partners to prevent further aggression from Russia. Zelensky also expressed gratitude to the American side for its active involvement in mediating and facilitating constructive dialogue during the negotiations.
Following the meeting, the parties agreed to hold another meeting in Geneva within the next 10 days. Zelensky added that over the next two days, he would discuss key messages and the mandate for the next round of negotiations with the negotiating team.
The upcoming meeting is taking place on the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion: during this time, according to various estimates, nearly two million people have died or been injured on both sides. Despite U.S. efforts in mediation, Russia continues to maintain a tough stance regarding its territorial claims. Ukraine remains committed to seeking compromises but does not agree to cede territories and insists on ensuring its own security.
In his message, the head of state expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian delegation for their professional work, patience, and adherence to directives during the challenging negotiations with the Russian side.