Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated that a new round of trilateral negotiations involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia could take place in the middle of next week. However, he noted that specific details regarding the timing and positions of the parties involved remain unclear.
During a press briefing on March 14, Zelensky mentioned that the initiative to reschedule the talks originated from the U.S., which has also proposed hosting the meeting on American soil. Ukraine has expressed its willingness to travel to the U.S., but Russia has not yet agreed to this arrangement.
“We are awaiting a response from the Americans. They need to either change the meeting location or the Russians must confirm the U.S. as the venue. We are not blocking any of these initiatives. We want the trilateral meeting to happen. We believe these discussions are crucial. We are making progress in releasing people from captivity, and there are positive developments. They mentioned mid-next week as a potential date for the meeting, but I cannot confirm whether it will take place. We currently lack a clear timeline and proposal,” Zelensky stated.
Additionally, the president speculated that a recent visit by Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian negotiating team, to the U.S. might have been related to discussions on easing sanctions against Russia rather than peace negotiations.
“We know this is not the first meeting regarding sanctions. I believe they have pushed for some results, at least partially. I am not sure at what stage their economic relations are, but the issue of sanctions has certainly been raised, and we see some outcomes,” he added.
On March 13, Zelensky described the preparations for the negotiations as a “whole Santa Barbara,” indicating a sense of complexity and confusion surrounding the process. He revealed that the talks were initially set for next week but were postponed at the request of the U.S.
Ukraine has confirmed its readiness to travel to either Miami or Washington, depending on the U.S. decision. In contrast, Russia has suggested alternative locations such as Turkey or Switzerland, which the U.S. has not accepted.
Background on Recent Trilateral Talks
The last round of trilateral negotiations took place in Geneva on February 17-18. Following the first day of discussions, Rustem Umerov, the Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, reported that delegations continued to work in smaller groups on specific issues. The talks focused on practical matters and potential solutions.
On the same day, Umerov held a separate meeting in Geneva with representatives from the U.S., France, the UK, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland to discuss the outcomes of the first day and align approaches for future steps.
Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Special Envoy, noted significant progress during the initial discussions, stating that both sides agreed to update their leaders and continue working towards a peace agreement.
The second day of negotiations on February 18 was characterized by Umerov as “intensive and substantive.” He mentioned that both political and military tracks were discussed, including security parameters and mechanisms for implementing potential agreements. He added that some issues were clarified while others remained for further coordination. The next step would be to achieve a consensus necessary for presenting the developed solutions to the presidents.
Russian delegation leader Vladimir Medinsky described the negotiations as “difficult but businesslike.” Zelensky remarked that the discussions had achieved a level of “constructiveness” regarding ceasefire monitoring, with the U.S. expected to play a role in this process.
Umerov later indicated that a new meeting would occur soon following the Geneva talks.
Overview of Peace Negotiations
Previous discussions between Ukraine and the U.S. regarding a 20-point peace plan took place in Berlin on December 14-15, 2025. Umerov characterized the talks as productive, noting some progress was made.
On December 24, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker stated that four documents were discussed during the negotiations, with Washington seeking to understand Moscow’s maximum willingness to end its aggression.
On December 28, Zelensky met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago, where they agreed on 90% of the peace plan and 100% of the security guarantees. They later held a joint call with European leaders to discuss the next steps in finalizing these documents.
Russia has reviewed the proposals regarding the end of the war but has not provided a definitive agreement.
Trilateral talks were held in Abu Dhabi on January 23-24, focusing on ending the conflict and advancing peace negotiations. Umerov emphasized that the goal was to move toward a dignified and lasting peace, and a White House representative described the meeting as productive.
Zelensky has previously stressed that key issues remain in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, with the Ukrainian delegation awaiting specific responses from Russia regarding the war’s conclusion.
Discussions in Abu Dhabi on February 4-5 involved methods for implementing ceasefires and monitoring the cessation of hostilities. On February 13, it was announced that the next round of negotiations would occur in Geneva on February 17-18, which was later confirmed by Ukrainian presidential advisor Dmytro Lytvyn and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
Umerov indicated that energy ceasefire discussions might be on the agenda for the Geneva talks.
On February 15, Zelensky reported on consultations with Trump representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner ahead of the Geneva meeting.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced potential trilateral talks with the U.S. and Russia next week, although details remain unclear. The discussions aim to address ongoing conflict issues, with Ukraine prepared to meet in the U.S., while Russia has proposed alternative locations.