Military negotiators from Ukraine, Russia and the United States have agreed on how a potential ceasefire would function on the ground, including detailed mechanisms for monitoring compliance once fighting stops.
The two-day military talks in Geneva focused on how a ceasefire would work in practice – agreeing on key definitions, what would count as a violation, and how the ceasefire would be monitored as soon as it takes effect, a source familiar with the talks told CNN on Wednesday.
The discussions ran alongside political negotiations but proceeded on a separate track.
According to the source, negotiators made “incremental but significant progress,” agreeing on common terms and technical details to avoid confusion and make the ceasefire workable.
Political leaders are expected to review and formally approve the draft framework in the coming weeks, with another military meeting likely to be scheduled soon.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the military track is nearing completion, saying negotiators are close to a full draft on ceasefire monitoring.
“There were two groups – a military group and a political group,” Zelensky said on Thursday. “We are closer to completing negotiations on the military track than on the political one. Why? Because the military representatives, in a trilateral format, discussed how to develop a ceasefire monitoring mission once it is established, once the political track opens those possibilities.”
Zelensky said the military talks addressed “details, technical nuances, and the capabilities of both sides,” with a leading role envisioned for the United States.
“First and foremost, the Americans, because they will have a key role in monitoring,” he said, adding that discussions are ongoing regarding European participation. “For us, their role is very important.”
He said the outcome of the military talks is a near-complete draft detailing how monitoring would begin immediately after a ceasefire takes effect.
The military talks were led by US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Gen. Alex Grynkewich, commander of US European Command.
Political reactions, however, underscored lingering divides. Zelensky told reporters that the outcome fell short.
“Sensitive political matters, issues of possible compromises and the necessary meeting of leaders have not yet been sufficiently worked through,” he told reporters on Thursday.
On the Russian side, presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who headed Moscow’s delegation, described the political talks as “difficult, but businesslike.”
The main obstacle remains a dramatic disagreement over territorial issues, with both sides firmly holding their positions.
Russia currently occupies about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, and is demanding full control of Donetsk as part of any agreement – including territory they have not been able to conquer in nearly 12 years of war – a condition Kyiv has rejected without firm Western security guarantees.