Ukrainian and U.S. officials met in Geneva on Thursday (February 26) for talks on post-war reconstruction despite a deadlock in negotiations with Russia, and officials in Kyiv hoped to finalize key details of a settlement at a trilateral meeting early next month, Reuters reports.
Top Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov said the participants at the meeting, which followed a night of Russian attacks on infrastructure, spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy after its conclusion.
Zelenskiy, who spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday (February 25), said trilateral talks would likely take place in Abu Dhabi in early March and would aim to prepare the way for a meeting of Ukraine and Russia's leaders.
"Everything will have to be finalized. Everything that has been achieved for real security guarantees and preparing a meeting at the leaders' level," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address, referring to the forthcoming trilateral meeting.
"I spoke with President Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff @SEPeaceMissions and @JaredKushner, following the outcomes of their meetings with Rustem Umerov and David Arakhamia today. We are grateful to @POTUS for his personal efforts to end this war.
There is already greater readiness for the next trilateral format. We expect the format to take place in early March. We need to finalize everything achieved so far for real security guarantees and prepare a meeting at the leaders’ level. This is the format that can resolve many issues. At the end of the day, leaders decide key issues and when it comes to Russia – such a personalist regime – this is relevant even more than in other countries.
I thank the United States for commitment to finding a path to peace," Zelenskiy stated.
