The first day of another round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia on ending the war took place in Geneva, Switzerland, on February 17.
This was reported by Suspilne, citing a source in diplomatic circles.
“The delegations have completed negotiations for today in the political bloc, the military group is still working,” the source said.
A source in EU diplomatic circles reported that EU representatives did not directly participate in the negotiations in Geneva today.
As of 7:50 p.m., it is known that the Ukrainian delegation has left the hotel where the negotiations were taking place.
Updated at 20:13. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov said that after the joint part of the negotiations, the delegations continued to work in groups on separate areas. According to him, the discussions focused on practical issues and the mechanics of possible solutions.
Umerov added that as of today, both the political and military blocs have completed their work. The Ukrainian side thanked the American partners for their constructive interaction and willingness to work at an intensive pace.
“The results of the first day of talks in Geneva will be reported to the President of Ukraine today. Tomorrow morning, the political and military groups will continue their work,” the NSDC Secretary noted.
The first day of trilateral talks between Ukraine, the US and Russia
On the afternoon of February 17, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov wrote in his Telegram channel about the start of negotiations.
“Today we are starting another round of negotiations in a trilateral format – Ukraine, the United States, Russia,” Umerov wrote.
He emphasized that the Ukrainian delegation is operating within a clearly defined mandate agreed with President Volodymyr Zelensky, and the priority topics on the agenda will be security and humanitarian issues.
According to Umerov, the delegation's work will be “constructive, focused, and without unnecessary expectations,” and the priority task is “to maximally advance those solutions that can bring sustainable peace closer.”
“We thank the American side for its involvement and consistent work in the negotiation process. We are grateful to Switzerland for the organization and the conditions provided for holding the meetings,” the NSDC Secretary added.
The day before, the Ukrainian delegation, whose composition was approved by President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 13, arrived in Geneva. According to Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council and head of the delegation, Ukraine expects “constructive work and substantive meetings on security and humanitarian issues to advance towards a dignified and sustainable peace.”
Earlier, while speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Umerov stated that the issues of an energy truce would also be discussed at the talks in Geneva.