Ukraine's chief negotiator after first day of Geneva talks: We coordinated steps with US and partners
Rustem Umierov, Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, has said that he has held a separate coordination meeting with Western partners after the first day of trilateral talks in Geneva involving Ukraine, the US and Russia.
Source: Umierov on Facebook
Quote: "I concluded a separate meeting with representatives of the United States and European partners — France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.
We discussed the outcomes of today's round of negotiations and synchronised our approaches to the next steps. It is important to maintain a shared vision and coordinated actions among Ukraine, the United States, and Europe. There is a clear understanding of our shared responsibility for the result. We continue our work."
Details: Umierov said that the political and military working groups will continue their work on the morning of Wednesday 18 February.
Three sides are taking part in the Geneva talks: Ukraine, the US and Russia. European partners – national security advisers from the UK, France, Germany and Italy – are present on the sidelines of the summit for meetings with the Ukrainian and US teams.
The Ukrainian delegation is led by Rustem Umierov and also includes Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine; Serhii Kyslytsia, First Deputy Head of the President's Office; Davyd Arakhamiia, leader of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction; Andrii Hnatov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; and Vadym Skibitskyi, Deputy Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.
The Russian delegation is headed by Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's aide Vladimir Medinsky.
On the US side, the delegation includes Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus Grynkewich.
Background:
- On 17 February, a new round of talks began in Geneva, during which, according to Umierov, the delegations were focusing on security and humanitarian issues.
- US President Donald Trump said ahead of trilateral talks in Geneva that Ukraine "better come to the table fast".
- On the night before the talks began, Russia conducted a large-scale attack on Ukraine.
- Axios journalist Barak Ravid reported that the Geneva talks had "got stuck", adding that the reason was the positions presented by Russia's chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky.
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