Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, arrived in Geneva and may hold talks with U.S. officials, according to the RIA news agency.
RIA reported that Dmitriev was seen at the Four Seasons hotel, where the U.S. delegation was meeting Ukrainian representatives.
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, were expected to begin discussions around lunchtime, a Ukrainian official said.
Ukraine will be represented by Rustem Umerov, head of the country’s negotiating team and the National Security and Defence Council.
Reconstruction has become a central element of broader efforts to end the war, now in its fifth year.
Kyiv estimates it will need about $800 billion in public and private funding over the next decade to rebuild after damage from Russian aerial strikes and frontline fighting.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned continued Russian attacks, saying, “When the whole world demands Moscow to finally stop this senseless war, Putin bets on more terror, attacks, and aggression.”
He reiterated calls for additional sanctions on Russia and more military support for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on X that the talks also focused on preparations for a bilateral meeting in Geneva and a broader trilateral session scheduled for early March.
He said Kyiv hopes the meeting “will create an opportunity to move talks to the leaders’ level,” noting that Trump supports the proposed sequence.
Zelenskyy thanked the U.S. for its continued involvement in negotiations and for supplying air defence missiles, which he said helped Ukraine endure “its most difficult winter” since the full-scale invasion.
“We greatly value” U.S. support, he wrote, saying the assistance was helping to protect lives amid ongoing missile attacks.
Earlier during the day U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the conflict “does not have a military solution” and insisted that only negotiations can bring it to an end.
“The administration has continued to increase pressure on Moscow,” Rubio said, citing additional sanctions on Russian oil giant Rosneft and continued U.S. weapons sales to Kyiv.
“We don’t sell weapons to Russia and we don’t sanction Ukraine,” he stated.
Rubio argued that the United States is uniquely positioned to broker talks, saying it is “the only country or entity on the planet” able to bring Russian and Ukrainian negotiators to the same table. He added that while President Trump’s patience is not “infinite”, Washington does not want to abandon diplomatic efforts or its role at the United Nations.
Missile strikes
Zelenskyy said Russia had launched 420 drones and 39 missiles in another night of attacks on energy and other critical infrastructure.
"Last night, Russia once again waged war on critical infrastructure and ordinary residential buildings," he said on the Telegram messaging app.
Ballistic and cruise missiles targeted Kyiv, the surrounding region and the eastern Kharkiv region, while drones struck the southern city of Zaporizhzhia. Officials did not immediately disclose how many weapons were used or specify the primary targets.
In the Kharkiv region, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said at least 14 people were injured, including a seven-year-old boy. He added that the city of Kharkiv was hit by two missiles and 17 drones.
Zaporizhzhia Governor Ivan Fedorov said seven people were wounded in the overnight attack.
Russian drones damaged 19 apartment buildings and left around 500 homes without heating after infrastructure was hit. He published photographs showing shattered buildings, destroyed private houses and damaged shops.
Authorities in Kyiv reported that falling debris from intercepted missiles and drones damaged buildings in three districts of the capital.
Moscow has not yet publicly commented on or confirmed the reported overnight missile and drone strikes.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 18th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Russia and Iran are “brothers in hatred” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the UK Parliament following a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday (17 March).
Morocco has been declared winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and Senegal stripped of their title by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
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