Geneva Talks: Ukraine Peace Hinges on Territory
Russia, the United States, and Ukraine meet in Geneva for a third round of peace talks on February 17-18, with territorial concessions as the central issue. Trump pushes for a deal before the war's fourth anniversary.
A new round of tripartite peace talks between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine has begun in Geneva on February 17, behind closed doors at a Swiss hotel. The two-day negotiations represent the most significant diplomatic effort yet to end Europe's largest conflict since World War II.
Key delegations and players
Russia's delegation of approximately 20 officials is led by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to President Putin. This marks Medinsky's first appearance at the trilateral format after being absent from earlier rounds in the United Arab Emirates in January and early February, where Russia was represented by security and military intelligence officials.
The US side is led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, adviser and son-in-law of President Donald Trump. Ukraine's delegation is headed by Rustem Umerov, secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, and Kyrylo Budanov, head of Zelensky's chief of staff office.
Territory at the center
The negotiations are expected to focus primarily on the territorial question — the most contentious issue dividing the two sides. Kyiv seeks a ceasefire while holding current territory, whereas Russia demands sweeping concessions and recognition of occupied regions including Crimea and parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts.
Ukrainian officials have indicated some flexibility, with reports suggesting Zelensky may be ready to discuss the status of Donbas, though Kyiv insists on maintaining sovereignty claims over all internationally recognized Ukrainian territory.
Trump's pressure campaign
President Trump has intensified pressure on both sides to reach a deal, particularly as the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion approaches on February 24. Ukrainian President Zelensky has complained publicly that his country faces the greatest pressure from Washington to make concessions, while Trump has described the negotiations as potentially "simple."
Expectations remain cautious
Despite the high-profile nature of the talks, diplomatic analysts caution that expectations should remain modest. The positions of Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart, and previous rounds, while described as constructive in tone, have not produced concrete breakthroughs on the fundamental issues of territory and sovereignty.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Geneva Solutions, Kyiv Post
