Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated that the next round of tripartite negotiations involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia may take place in early March. This announcement was made during a press briefing on February 25, following a meeting with Rustem Umerov, the head of the Ukrainian delegation for the talks.
Zelensky noted, “I just spoke with Rustem Umerov. He will have a meeting tomorrow with American negotiators: Witkoff and Kushner, as well as discussions with the Minister of Economy. The first point is a bilateral meeting with the American side, focusing on details of the Ukraine recovery package. The second point involves preparations for the upcoming tripartite meeting with Russia, which we anticipate will occur in early March. Lastly, Umerov will discuss details regarding a prisoner exchange, and we are hopeful for positive outcomes on this humanitarian front.”
Prior to this, the Interfax Ukraine agency reported comments from U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who announced a meeting with Umerov in the coming days. Witkoff stated that a new tripartite meeting could occur within the next ten days.
Several rounds of tripartite discussions among Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia have taken place during January and February, though specific outcomes have not been disclosed. However, a significant development occurred on February 5, when delegations reached an agreement on a prisoner exchange, marking the first such agreement in five months.
Witkoff recently expressed optimism in an interview with Fox News, anticipating “good news” in the coming weeks and suggesting the possibility of a meeting between President Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
U.S. President Donald Trump, prior to negotiations in Geneva on February 17-18, emphasized the importance of Ukraine quickly engaging in discussions. He previously stated that he believes Russia is seeking to reach an agreement amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Despite U.S. efforts to mediate an end to the war, Russia has shown little willingness to retreat from its stringent demands, which include Ukraine’s renunciation of 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 and signals adherence to its maximalist objectives in the conflict.
Meanwhile, Ukraine insists on robust security guarantees from the U.S. and European allies to safeguard against future Russian aggression.
Related: European intelligence agencies doubt peace between Ukraine and Russia by 2026 – Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced potential tripartite negotiations with the U.S. and Russia for early March, following recent discussions. While the U.S. expresses optimism, Russia maintains its stringent demands, complicating prospects for peace.