In Geneva, a new round of negotiations involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia commenced on February 17, with discussions focusing on security and humanitarian issues. Rustem Umerov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, led the Ukrainian delegation and reported on a separate coordination meeting held with Western partners following the first day of talks.
Umerov shared details of his discussions on Facebook, stating, “I concluded a separate meeting with representatives from the United States and European partners, including France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.” He emphasized the significance of maintaining a unified vision and coordinated actions among Ukraine, the US, and Europe, acknowledging a shared responsibility for the outcomes of the negotiations.
The Ukrainian delegation is set to continue its work on February 18, with both political and military groups prepared to engage further. Alongside Umerov, key figures in the Ukrainian team include Kyrylo Budanov, head of the President’s Office; his first deputy, Serhiy Kyslytsia; David Arakhamia, head of the Servant of the People faction; Andriy Hnatov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; and Vadym Skibitskyi, Deputy Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate.
The Russian delegation is led by Vladimir Medinsky, an assistant to the Russian president. The US team includes special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former President Donald Trump, Army Secretary Den Driscoll, and General Alexus Grinkevich, the NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.
Prior to these discussions, President Trump urged Ukraine to engage in talks with Russia swiftly. The negotiations come in the wake of a significant Russian missile strike on Ukraine, which occurred just before the talks began. Reports from Axios journalist Barak Ravid indicated that the negotiations had reached an impasse, attributed to the positions taken by Medinsky during the discussions.
Negotiations in Geneva between Ukraine, the US, and Russia are centered on security and humanitarian concerns, following a significant Russian strike on Ukraine. Key figures from both sides are engaged in discussions, with hopes of achieving a coordinated approach moving forward.