On February 26, a bilateral meeting is set to take place in Geneva between a Ukrainian delegation and U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Ukrainian Minister of Economy Oleksii Sobolev, head of the “Servant of the People” faction Davyd Arakhamia, and First Deputy Minister of Social Policy Daryna Marchak will join the discussions, as outlined by the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov.
Umerov indicated that the focus will be on developing a “prosperity package,” which includes mechanisms for economic support and recovery, as well as tools for attracting investment and fostering long-term cooperation.
Additionally, preparations for the next round of trilateral negotiations involving Russia will be discussed. Umerov emphasized the importance of addressing humanitarian issues and potential exchanges, expressing hope for tangible results regarding the return of Ukrainian citizens.
Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a conversation with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, during which he discussed the preparations for the fourth round of negotiations and possible shifts in the positions of the parties involved.
Zelenskyy noted that the upcoming talks are also scheduled to occur in Geneva within the next ten days.
The third round of trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia took place in Geneva on February 17-18.
According to Axios, the political aspects of the negotiations have stalled due to the positions articulated by Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky. Specific details of his statements remain unclear, but Russia continues to demand the withdrawal of Ukrainian Armed Forces from Donbas.
Conversely, CNN reported that the military negotiating group made significant progress regarding the implementation of a ceasefire.
Previously, President Zelenskyy stated that the U.S. would primarily oversee monitoring efforts in the event of a ceasefire, while he confirmed that no agreement had been reached concerning the situation in Donbas.
A meeting in Geneva between Ukrainian officials and U.S. negotiators aims to address economic recovery and humanitarian issues amid ongoing trilateral discussions with Russia. The negotiations have faced challenges, particularly regarding military and political positions.