White House: Ukraine and Russia have made "meaningful progress" in talks
The White House has said that both the Ukrainian and Russian sides at the trilateral talks held in Geneva on 17-18 February had made "meaningful progress".
Source: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt at a briefing
Details: Leavitt said that both parties had agreed to brief their leaders and continue working together towards a peace agreement.
Quote: "Just yesterday, there was another round of trilateral talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine. There was meaningful progress made in both parties, both sides agreed to update their respective leaders and to continue to work towards a peace deal together."
Details: Leavitt added that another round of talks will take place in the future.
Quote: "The president views this entire situation as very unfair, not just for Russians and Ukrainians who have lost their lives, but also for the American people and the American taxpayer who were footing the bill for this war effort before President Trump put a stop to it.
And I would just remind everyone around the world that the United States is still selling weapons to NATO that are then being sent to Ukraine in their defence of their freedom, uh, in their borders."
Background:
- On the morning of 18 February, Rustem Umierov, the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, reported that the second day of the trilateral talks on the settlement of Russia's war against Ukraine had begun in Geneva.
- Later, Vladimir Medinsky, the head of the Russian delegation, announced that the latest round of talks had concluded. He said that the negotiations in Geneva lasted about two hours and were "tough but business-like".
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that it was agreed at the talks that the US will be involved in the monitoring of a ceasefire.
- He added that political issues concerning possible compromises and the need for a meeting of leaders had not been sufficiently addressed in the negotiations on ending the war.
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