The decision to hold the next round of Russia-Ukraine talks in Geneva marks a symbolic return of negotiations to Europe, The Guardian reported on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Previous rounds were hosted in Abu Dhabi and Istanbul. The move to Switzerland signals a geographic and diplomatic shift as Western powers intensify efforts to shape the framework of a potential settlement.
According to the report, Washington pushed for Geneva as the venue. Trump’s Russian and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who are expected to lead the administration’s engagement with Russia and Ukraine, are also scheduled to meet Iranian officials in the Swiss city, allowing the White House to consolidate multiple diplomatic tracks.
The choice comes amid renewed pressure from US President Donald Trump, who over the weekend suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was slowing efforts to end the war. Trump has oscillated between criticizing Moscow and Kyiv during his second term, as negotiations continue without a clear breakthrough.
Russian officials arrived in Geneva early Tuesday for talks, a source in the delegation told AFP. The aircraft carrying the Russian team landed at around 8 a.m. Kyiv time (06:00 UTC), the source said.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said last week that negotiations remain far from complete, dismissing optimistic claims of progress.
Referring to earlier talks in Abu Dhabi, he said there was “still a long way to go,” while earlier accusing Washington of backing away from proposals discussed in Anchorage, heavily weighted in Moscow’s favor.
Trump told reporters on Feb. 13 that Zelensky was “going to have to get moving” on peace talks.
“Russia wants to make a deal, and Zelensky’s going to have to get moving, otherwise he’s going to miss a great opportunity. He has to move,” he said as he departed the White House for North Carolina.