Recent statements from Ukrainian officials suggest that a meeting involving leaders from Ukraine, the United States, and Russia could be pivotal in advancing peace negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. Ehor Chernev, a member of Ukraine’s parliament and head of its delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, emphasized the necessity of such a summit during a recent interview.
Chernev noted that current discussions at the level of negotiation teams have not yielded significant results. He pointed out that Russian representatives lack the authority to make crucial decisions, limiting the effectiveness of these talks. “The representatives arrive with a specific framework that they cannot deviate from regarding key issues, such as the free economic zone,” he explained. This situation leads to repetitive outcomes, as the same responses are returned to Moscow without progress.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated that the next round of three-way negotiations could take place in early March, with the hope that this will facilitate a transition to discussions among the leaders. Chernev expressed cautious optimism about the potential for a meeting at the leadership level, suggesting that the presence of former President Donald Trump might alter the dynamics of the conversation.
He remarked, “The issue of territories can only be resolved at the leadership level. There is some optimism regarding this, but we will see if it materializes.” The negotiations are expected to address not only security guarantees but also territorial disputes, which remain contentious points in the ongoing conflict.
In January and February, several rounds of talks among Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia took place, although specific outcomes were not disclosed. However, a notable agreement was reached on February 5 regarding the exchange of prisoners of war, marking the first such agreement in five months.
Stephen Witkoff, a special envoy for President Trump, recently expressed hope for positive developments in the coming weeks and acknowledged the possibility of a meeting between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Despite U.S. efforts to mediate an end to the conflict, Russia has shown little willingness to compromise on its demands, which include Ukraine’s renunciation of claims to territories in Donbas. Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have noted that the Kremlin continues to reject Western security guarantees for Ukraine while maintaining its maximalist objectives in the war.
Meanwhile, Ukraine insists on robust security assurances from the U.S. and European allies to protect itself from future aggression.
Ukrainian officials are advocating for a high-level meeting involving leaders from Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia to advance peace negotiations. Current talks have yielded limited results due to a lack of decision-making authority among Russian representatives, but there is cautious optimism for future discussions aimed at resolving territorial disputes and establishing security guarantees.