The United States has indicated that significant progress was made during the third round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Geneva. This meeting, which took place on February 18, involved discussions facilitated by the U.S. aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict.
According to U.S. officials, President Donald Trump and his administration have dedicated considerable resources to efforts aimed at concluding the war initiated by Russia against Ukraine. “Just yesterday, another round of trilateral talks took place involving the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine. Substantial progress was made on both sides, with both parties agreeing to inform their leaders and continue collaborative efforts towards a peace agreement. Future negotiations are anticipated,” stated a representative.
Furthermore, the representative emphasized that Trump views the circumstances surrounding the war as deeply unjust, not only for the Ukrainian and Russian peoples but also for American taxpayers who have financed military efforts in the conflict.
The Geneva talks concluded with reports that a military subgroup is nearing completion on procedural matters, including mechanisms for monitoring and ceasefire agreements. However, progress on the political subgroup has stalled due to Moscow’s demands for the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the entire Donetsk region.
The Russian delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, is reportedly attempting to revert discussions to points raised during the Istanbul negotiations of 2022. Despite this, the Ukrainian side has managed to maintain pressure and shift the dialogue towards a more constructive framework. Nevertheless, key decisions are now contingent upon a meeting at the leadership level.
The latest round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Geneva has yielded notable progress, with both sides agreeing to continue discussions. However, political hurdles remain, particularly regarding Moscow's demands for troop withdrawals.