Trilateral negotiations involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia wrapped up in Geneva on February 18, as confirmed by Diana Davityan, head of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council’s secretariat.
The discussions, which lasted approximately two hours, included both military and political subgroups, although specific outcomes were not disclosed. This round of talks marked the third in a series of meetings held over the past month, focusing on critical issues hindering the cessation of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, particularly territorial disputes and security guarantees.
These negotiations took place just a week before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, a conflict that has resulted in nearly two million casualties on both sides. Davityan noted that the consultations were organized into groups focusing on political and military issues, aiming to clarify the parameters and mechanisms of the decisions discussed previously.
Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated that the discussions covered a broader range of topics compared to earlier meetings. Following the first day of talks on February 17, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff reported significant progress, highlighting the U.S. administration’s commitment to facilitating dialogue aimed at ending the conflict.
Witkoff stated, “The success of President Trump in engaging both sides has led to substantial progress, and we take pride in working under his leadership to halt the violence in this tragic conflict.” However, details regarding any agreements reached during the meetings were not revealed.
Sources in Washington informed Radio Liberty that national security advisors from the UK, France, Germany, and Italy were present as observers during the February 17 discussions. Davityan also mentioned that he held separate meetings with representatives from the U.S. and European partners after the first day of negotiations.
Russian media quoted a source from the Russian delegation stating that the February 17 talks lasted six hours and were described as “very tense.” Axios reported that the political group encountered a deadlock due to the stance of the new head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, while the military group continued to make progress.
The backdrop of these discussions included a significant Russian attack on Ukraine on the night of February 17, involving 29 missiles and 396 drone strikes. Previous negotiations took place in Abu Dhabi on January 23-24 and February 4-5, but did not yield major breakthroughs. However, a prisoner exchange agreement was reached during the February 5 meeting, the first in five months.
Witkoff characterized the February 4-5 discussions as constructive and focused on creating conditions for lasting peace, with ceasefire discussions also on the agenda. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted a reduction in unresolved issues between Ukraine and Russia but acknowledged that the most challenging topics remained, particularly territorial disputes.
Trilateral talks among Ukraine, the US, and Russia concluded in Geneva, focusing on key issues impeding peace. While significant progress was reported, specific outcomes remain unclear as the conflict continues to escalate.