On February 17, Rustem Umerov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, held a separate meeting in Geneva with representatives from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. This meeting was part of ongoing tripartite negotiations involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia.
Umerov announced the meeting via Telegram, stating that participants reviewed the outcomes of the first round of discussions and aligned their approaches for future steps. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a unified vision and coordinated actions among Ukraine, the U.S., and European partners.
Earlier that day, Umerov confirmed the commencement of the latest round of negotiations. He noted that the Ukrainian delegation was operating under a clearly defined mandate approved by President Volodymyr Zelensky, with key agenda items focusing on security and humanitarian issues.
In the evening, Umerov reported that after the joint session, delegations continued their work in specialized groups. Discussions were concentrated on practical matters and mechanisms for potential resolutions. He expressed gratitude towards American partners for their constructive engagement and readiness to work at an intensive pace.
“A report on the first day of negotiations in Geneva will be presented to the President of Ukraine today. Tomorrow morning, the political and military groups will continue their work,” Umerov stated.
The tripartite talks follow a series of discussions held in December 2025 in Berlin, where the Ukrainian delegation, led by President Zelensky, engaged with U.S. officials regarding a 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the conflict. Umerov described the Berlin meeting as productive, noting that some progress was achieved.
On December 24, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker indicated that four documents were discussed during the negotiations, aiming to clarify Moscow’s willingness to conclude hostilities. Subsequently, on December 28, Zelensky met with U.S. President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, where they reportedly agreed on 90% of the peace plan and 100% on security guarantees. They later held a joint call with European leaders to discuss further meetings to finalize these documents.
While Russia has reviewed the proposals for ending the conflict, it has not provided a definitive agreement. On January 23-24, tripartite talks took place in Abu Dhabi, focusing on the conclusion of the war and future peace agreements.
Umerov reiterated that the goal of the negotiations is to advance towards a just and lasting peace. A White House representative characterized the Abu Dhabi meeting as productive. Zelensky has previously highlighted that key issues remain concerning the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, with the Ukrainian delegation awaiting specific responses from Russia regarding the cessation of hostilities.
Further negotiations occurred on February 4-5 in Abu Dhabi, where discussions included methods for implementing a ceasefire and monitoring the cessation of combat operations. On February 13, it was announced that the next round of talks among the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia would take place in Geneva on February 17-18. This was confirmed by Ukrainian presidential advisor Dmytro Lytvyn and earlier by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
On February 14, Umerov mentioned that discussions in Geneva might also cover the topic of an energy ceasefire. The following day, Zelensky reported on consultations held with Trump representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner prior to the Geneva meeting.
The Ukrainian delegation, led by Rustem Umerov, engaged in tripartite negotiations in Geneva with representatives from the U.S. and European nations, focusing on security and humanitarian issues. The discussions follow previous meetings aimed at establishing a peace plan to conclude ongoing hostilities.