US and Ukrainian Officials to Hold Talks
On February 26, Ukraine's Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov, will hold meetings with US representatives in Geneva. The high-level US delegation will include:
- US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff,
- Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former President Donald Trump,
- US Secretary of Commerce Scott Bessent.
The agenda for their discussions is set to cover several critical areas:
- Ukraine's post-war reconstruction,
- advancing the peace process,
- the exchange of prisoners of war.
Laying Groundwork for Trilateral Negotiations
The meeting will also serve to prepare for potential trilateral talks involving Russia, which could take place in early March. Steve Witkoff indicated the timeline, stating:
"The next round of negotiations between American, Russian, and Ukrainian delegations could occur within 10 days." - Steve Witkoff
The American side has expressed hope for a potential meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Such a summit would need to address two fundamental issues:
- territorial disputes,
- security guarantees.
This diplomatic engagement marks a significant step in re-establishing dialogue between Ukraine and the United States. The involvement of senior US figures underscores the continued international focus on resolving the conflict, which has persisted for over two years since Russia's full-scale invasion, and supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and recovery efforts.