Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian and US delegations will hold bilateral talks in Geneva on Thursday, Feb. 26, with preparations underway for a new round of trilateral negotiations involving Russia in early March.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Zelensky said he had just spoken with Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who is set to lead the Ukrainian delegation.
“Tomorrow, he will meet with American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Umerov will be joined by the minister of economy. This will be a bilateral meeting with the American side,” Zelensky said, according to Suspilne.
Focus on ‘Prosperity Package’
Zelensky said the talks will focus on what he described as a “Prosperity Package,” with both sides set to discuss its details.
Following the bilateral meeting, preparations will begin for a trilateral format involving Ukraine, the United States and Russia.
“They will prepare for a trilateral meeting, which will include Russia, and which, in our view, will take place at the beginning of March,” Zelensky said.
Prisoner exchange on agenda
The president added that he had instructed Umerov to also discuss details of a potential prisoner exchange, expressing hope for progress on what he described as a humanitarian track.
On Feb. 24, Witkoff said he and Kushner would meet the head of Ukraine’s negotiating delegation and Secretary Rustem Umerov in Geneva on Feb. 26.
The latest round of trilateral US-Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Geneva wrapped up on Feb. 17-18, with Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky describing the session as “tough but businesslike.” He said a new round of discussions will take place in the near future.
Despite tensions on the political track of the negotiations, the military track proved more productive, with negotiators shaping ceasefire terms to take effect once the fighting stops.
A source familiar with the discussions told CNN that negotiators made “incremental but significant progress,” agreeing on common terms and technical details to avoid confusion and make the ceasefire workable.
Zelensky confirmed that the military track is nearing completion, saying negotiators are close to a full draft on ceasefire monitoring.