Ukraine’s lead negotiator Rustem Umerov will meet US envoy Steve Witkoff in Geneva on Thursday, ahead of trilateral talks with Russia expected in early March. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the meeting, part of preparations for ongoing efforts to end the Kremlin’s four-year war in Ukraine. The Geneva talks follow earlier negotiations that have yet to achieve meaningful progress.
Zelensky told reporters that the Thursday meeting would include Jared Kushner and American negotiators to lay groundwork for the upcoming trilateral discussions. Umerov’s adviser said the Geneva venue previously hosted joint talks involving Ukrainian, Russian, and US officials earlier this month. The discussions aim to coordinate Ukraine’s position before engaging Russia on key settlement issues.
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Key topics for the meeting include prisoner-of-war exchanges and a “prosperity package” for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction, Zelensky said. Witkoff earlier confirmed that the talks would explore possible frameworks for a peace deal, reflecting the United States’ push to end the war that has entered its fifth year. Tens of thousands have died, and much of eastern and southern Ukraine has been devastated.
Moscow and Kyiv remain sharply divided over post-war territorial settlements. Russia demands full control of the eastern Donetsk region and has threatened force if Kyiv resists. Ukraine has firmly rejected such conditions, insisting that any agreement must include strong security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression.
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Observers note that previous US-led negotiations under Donald Trump have struggled to achieve tangible results. Thursday’s Geneva talks signal continued international efforts to mediate between the warring parties and set the stage for the critical trilateral talks expected next month, amid persistent tensions and uncertainty over Ukraine’s territorial integrity.