Zelenskyy: We will hold meeting on Friday to decide next steps in negotiations
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced a meeting with members of Ukraine's negotiating team following talks held in Switzerland to determine the next steps in the negotiation process.
Source: Zelenskyy's address on 19 February
Quote: "Today, all members of our negotiating team will already be in Ukraine, and I have scheduled a special meeting with them for tomorrow regarding our next steps and decisions. They will deliver a report on those aspects of the negotiations that should not be discussed over the phone."
Details: Zelenskyy also said that further frameworks for dialogue will be discussed with the United States, European partners and the Russian side.
Quote: "It is important that the Europeans were present in Switzerland. This is exactly how we intend to work going forward – to ensure that Europe's positions are taken into account. I also want to thank all members of our delegation for strictly adhering to the directives during the negotiations. It is very important that Ukraine speaks confidently, strongly, and in a coordinated manner."
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".
- 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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