Kyiv has announced that lead Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov will meet with US envoy Steve Witkoff in Geneva on Thursday, ahead of fresh trilateral talks with Russia expected in early March.
On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters that the meeting with American negotiators Witkoff and Jared Kushner is part of “preparations for a trilateral meeting with Russia, which we believe will take place in early March."
Umerov’s adviser confirmed that Thursday’s meeting in Geneva will also touch on prisoner-of-war exchanges and a “prosperity package" for the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Witkoff earlier said the aim of the talks was to “explore different iterations about how we might get to a peace deal." The United States has been pushing for an end to the war, now in its fifth year, which has killed tens of thousands and destroyed much of eastern and southern Ukraine.
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Kyiv and Moscow remain divided over territorial control in any post-war settlement. Russia has demanded full control of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region and warned it may use force if Ukraine does not agree at the negotiating table. Ukraine has rejected this demand, insisting it will not sign any deal without security guarantees that prevent future Russian attacks.
The Geneva talks come after earlier rounds of discussions in Abu Dhabi and Switzerland, which so far have failed to produce a breakthrough.
Zelenskyy said Thursday’s meeting would cover preparations for a possible postwar recovery plan and a potential prisoner exchange. Ukraine hopes the trilateral talks with Russian officials could take place as soon as next week.
The Swiss city is also expected to host a separate round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran on the same day.
Source: World News in news18.com, World Latest News, World News
