On February 26, Rustem Umerov, the Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, is scheduled to meet with American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Geneva. This meeting marks the first bilateral discussion between Ukrainian representatives and U.S. officials since the onset of recent diplomatic efforts.
President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that the agenda will focus on two primary issues. The first is the “prosperity package,” aimed at outlining a reconstruction plan for Ukraine. The second topic will prepare for a forthcoming trilateral meeting that is expected to include Russia, anticipated to occur in early March.
Additionally, Umerov has been tasked with discussing the details of a potential exchange of prisoners. Diana Davityan, spokesperson for the National Security and Defense Council, confirmed that the meeting will take place in Geneva.
Prior to this, on February 24, Witkoff announced that he and Kushner would be traveling to Geneva to engage with Umerov. Witkoff, who serves as a special representative for U.S. President Donald Trump, indicated that the goal of the meeting is to continue dialogue and explore various options for achieving a peace agreement.
Witkoff also mentioned that following the discussions in Geneva, Umerov may visit Florida.
In related developments, President Zelensky spoke with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on February 21, informing him about preparations for a fourth round of negotiations and potential shifts in the positions of the involved parties. Zelensky noted that the next round of talks is also expected to take place in Geneva within the next ten days.
The third round of trilateral negotiations among Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia occurred in Geneva on February 17-18. Reports indicate that political discussions have stalled due to statements made by Russian delegation leader Vladimir Medinsky, whose specific remarks remain undisclosed. Russia continues to demand the withdrawal of Ukrainian armed forces from the Donbas region.
Conversely, military negotiators reportedly made significant progress regarding ceasefire arrangements. President Zelensky previously stated that the United States would primarily oversee monitoring efforts in the event of a ceasefire, while reiterating that no consensus has been reached concerning the situation in Donbas.
The upcoming meeting in Geneva between Ukrainian and U.S. officials aims to address reconstruction efforts and prepare for future negotiations with Russia. Recent talks have highlighted ongoing complexities in the diplomatic landscape, particularly concerning the Donbas region.