A new round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, the US, and Russia has begun in Geneva: details
17 February 15:13
The first day of the latest round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, the US, and Russia on ending the war has begun in Geneva, Switzerland.
This was reported on Telegram by NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
“Today we are starting another round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, the US, and Russia,” Umerov wrote.
What will be discussed in Geneva
The Russian side has stated that this time the agenda “will be broader” than during the previous round in Abu Dhabi. In particular, the Kremlin has announced that the territorial issue will be discussed.
Ukraine, for its part, plans to raise the issue of an energy truce . Also , the Ukrainian side expects results on humanitarian issues.
Composition of delegations
Ukraine:
- Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov;
- Head of the Presidential Administration Kyrylo Budanov;
- Deputy Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense Vadym Skibitsky;
- Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Serhiy Kyslytsya;
- Chief of the General Staff General Andriy Hnatov;
- Head of the Servant of the People faction David Arakhamia.
The Ukrainian delegation arrived in Geneva the evening before.
United States
The American side will be represented by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, Special Envoy to the White House Steve Witkoff, and US Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll;
According to available information, they arrived in Geneva to participate in the negotiations this morning.
Russia
This time, Russia has downgraded the status of its delegation. It is headed by the Russian dictator’s assistant and ideologue Vladimir Medinsky, who already participated in last year’s talks in Istanbul. However, prior to that, in Abu Dhabi, the Russian delegation was led by GRU chief Igor Kostyukov.
The plane carrying the Russian delegation landed in Switzerland on Tuesday morning.
The Russians say that their delegation will include at least 15 people. In addition to Medinsky and Kostyukov, it includes Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, known for his support of the Kremlin’s hard line. He has already begun to raise the issue of “external control” of Ukraine under the auspices of the UN.
Politico writes that among the delegates is GRU representative Alexander Zorin, who participated in the negotiations on Azovstal in 2022.
Other likely participants include Elena Podberezskaya (a subordinate of Medinsky) and Alexei Polishchuk (a representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry).
Kremlin special representative Kirill Dmitriev also arrived in Geneva.
Trump’s pressure
On the eve of the talks in Geneva, US President Donald Trump increased pressure on Kyiv, saying that “Ukraine had better sit down at the negotiating table as soon as possible.”
“These are important negotiations, it will be very easy, look, Ukraine had better sit down at the negotiating table quickly. That’s all I’m telling you. We are in this situation – we want them to come,” he told reporters aboard his Air Force One plane.
Russia’s strike on the eve of negotiations
Before the meeting in Geneva, the Russians launched a combined strike on Ukraine with missiles and drones on the night of February 17. The main targets were energy and civilian infrastructure.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry noted that this shows the extent of Russia’s disregard for peace efforts. President Volodymyr Zelensky called for more pressure on the aggressor country.
As is known, the enemy launched 29 missiles and 396 drones that night. Although most of the targets were intercepted by air defense forces, some still hit their targets. Odessa, Dnipro, and western Ukraine were attacked. Among the nine wounded are children. The Odessa thermal power plant and ordinary residential buildings were attacked.
