On February 17, significant advancements were noted during a tripartite meeting involving the United States, Ukraine, and Russia in Geneva. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announced the developments via social media, highlighting the constructive engagement of both parties in the ongoing conflict.
Witkoff stated, “President Trump’s success in bringing both sides of this war together has led to significant progress, and we are proud to work under his leadership to end the killings in this horrific conflict.” He mentioned that both Ukraine and Russia agreed to keep their leaders informed and to continue working towards a potential agreement.
Prior to this, Rustem Umerov, head of the Ukrainian delegation and Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, indicated that the first day of discussions was focused on practical issues and potential solutions. He expressed gratitude to the U.S. delegation for their constructive collaboration and readiness to work efficiently.
Umerov added that he would brief the Ukrainian president on the outcomes of the first day of negotiations, with plans for political and military groups to resume discussions the following morning. He also held separate meetings with representatives from the U.S. and European partners, including France, the UK, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland, to align approaches for the next steps.
He emphasized the importance of maintaining a unified vision and coordination among Ukraine, the U.S., and Europe, stating, “There is an understanding of shared responsibility for the outcome. We will continue our efforts.”
The first day of the political discussions concluded on February 17, with sources in Washington confirming that national security advisors from the UK, France, Germany, and Italy observed the talks. Russian media reported that the discussions lasted six hours and were described as “very tense.”
This meeting occurred amidst a massive Russian attack on Ukraine, which involved 29 missiles and 396 drone strikes overnight on February 17.
Previous negotiations took place in Abu Dhabi on January 23-24 and February 4-5, with U.S. mediation aimed at finding ways to end the war. However, no significant breakthroughs were achieved during those discussions, although an agreement was reached on a prisoner exchange for the first time in five months during the February 5 meeting.
Witkoff characterized the February 4-5 talks as “constructive and focused on creating conditions for lasting peace,” noting that ceasefire discussions were also on the agenda. Following the negotiations, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the list of unresolved issues between Ukraine and Russia had been narrowed, but acknowledged that the most challenging matters remained, particularly territorial disputes.
Recent negotiations in Geneva between the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia have yielded significant progress, with both sides agreeing to continue discussions. The talks come amid ongoing conflict and recent attacks on Ukraine, highlighting the urgency for a resolution.