Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reported progress following a two-day round of trilateral negotiations in Geneva involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia. The discussions focused on military and political matters, with Zelensky highlighting a constructive atmosphere regarding ceasefire monitoring.
According to Zelensky, the military representatives from all three parties exhibited a collaborative spirit. He stated, “There are two directions: military and political. I want to emphasize that all three sides were constructive on the military front… The military understand how to monitor the ceasefire and the cessation of war, provided there is political will. They essentially reached agreements on almost everything.”
“All other details regarding monitoring, technical nuances — all of this will be reported to me in a more comprehensive manner by General Andriy Hnatov upon his return,” he added.
Zelensky noted that the United States would actively participate in monitoring the ceasefire, describing this involvement as a “constructive signal.”
On the political front, the discussions addressed sensitive issues, particularly concerning the Donbas region and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Zelensky remarked, “We see that there are developments, but positions remain varied, as the negotiations were complex. Therefore, the delegation will provide me with further details.”
“We will also contact our European colleagues. I am pleased that this time there was broader participation from them in the negotiations. Europe’s presence is very important for us,” he concluded.
The Geneva talks commenced on February 17, with the Ukrainian delegation departing the hotel where discussions were held around 7:50 PM. Following the joint session, the delegations continued their work in smaller groups focusing on specific issues. Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov indicated that the discussions were centered on practical matters and mechanisms for potential resolutions.
Umerov also held separate meetings in Geneva with representatives from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. These discussions aimed to synchronize approaches to subsequent steps following the initial round of negotiations.
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff characterized the first day of talks as yielding “significant progress,” noting that both sides agreed to update their leaders and continue working towards a peace agreement.
The second day of negotiations, February 18, featured what Umerov described as “intensive and substantive” discussions. He confirmed that both political and military tracks were active, with security parameters and mechanisms for implementing potential agreements being addressed. Umerov mentioned that while some questions were clarified, others would require further coordination.
Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky characterized the round of talks as “difficult but businesslike.”
Background on Ukraine-US-Russia Peace Talks
Previous negotiations took place in Berlin on December 14-15, 2025, where a Ukrainian delegation led by Zelensky discussed a 20-point peace plan with U.S. officials. Following these talks, Umerov stated that progress had been made.
On December 24, U.S. NATO Ambassador Matthew Witaker indicated that four documents were discussed, with Washington seeking to understand Moscow’s willingness to end its aggression. Zelensky met with U.S. President Donald Trump on December 28 at Mar-a-Lago, where they reportedly aligned on 90% of the peace plan and 100% on security guarantees.
Russia reviewed the peace documents but did not provide a clear agreement. Subsequent trilateral talks occurred in Abu Dhabi on January 23-24, focusing on the war’s conclusion and the peace process.
Umerov reiterated the goal of these negotiations as advancing towards a “worthy and lasting peace.” A White House representative described the meeting as “productive.”
Key issues remain centered on the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, with the Ukrainian delegation anticipating concrete responses from Russia regarding the war’s resolution. Further negotiations were held in Abu Dhabi on February 4-5, where discussions included ceasefire implementation and monitoring.
On February 13, it was announced that the next round of talks would occur in Geneva on February 17-18, as confirmed by Ukrainian presidential advisor Dmytro Lytvyn and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Umerov also mentioned the potential discussion of an energy ceasefire during the Geneva talks.
Prior to the trilateral negotiations, Zelensky consulted with Trump representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Recent negotiations in Geneva between Ukraine, the US, and Russia have shown constructive engagement on military and political issues, particularly regarding ceasefire monitoring. President Zelensky emphasized the collaborative spirit of the talks, with further details expected upon the Ukrainian delegation's return.