U.S.-mediated talks on the Russia–Ukraine war concluded in Geneva on Thursday, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy describing the outcome as showing “more readiness” for further trilateral diplomacy covering security, economic and political elements of a potential settlement.
In his nightly address, Zelenskyy said preparations are continuing for the next phase of negotiations, which is likely to be held in Abu Dhabi, though the schedule has not been confirmed. He said he had spoken with Ukrainian and American representatives as the Geneva meetings were concluding.
"There is more readiness for the next trilateral meeting. Most likely the next meeting will be in the Emirates, in Abu-Dhabi. We expect the gathering to happen at the beginning of March to finalise everything," he said.
“I spoke with President (Donald) Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff @SEPeaceMissions and @JaredKushner, following the outcomes of their meetings with Rustem Umerov and David Arakhamia today. We are grateful to @POTUS for his personal efforts to end this war," Zelenskyy added.
He stressed that major decisions regarding Russia are typically taken at leadership level because of what he described as the highly centralised structure of Russia’s political system.
Zelenskyy also said sustained global pressure is necessary to help end the war, suggesting that limiting Russian energy exports and restricting Moscow’s access to global financial systems could help create conditions for a negotiated settlement.
"War has to come to an end – this is our position, this is the position of Ukraine, this is the position of all our partners but unfortunately everyone sees now that there is no readiness from the Russian side now and there is no evidence for now that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is halting his war machine. On the contrary he is preparing to further pursue war and the world has to be ready to put pressure on Russia for this to change,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine’s chief negotiator Rustem Umerov said the Geneva discussions were conducted through direct U.S.–Ukraine meetings and a broader session involving Swiss and American officials. The talks focused on security arrangements, post-war economic recovery and possible frameworks for future negotiations, including reconstruction investment plans and long-term international financing.
Umerov said the aim is to make the future trilateral format involving the United States and Russia more substantive by completing security, economic and diplomatic components. After the meetings, Ukrainian and U.S. representatives held a call with Zelenskyy to review the outcomes and outline next diplomatic steps, with particular focus on recovery planning and attracting international investment.
Background and unresolved issues
Earlier U.S.-mediated negotiations were held in Abu Dhabi on 23–24 January and 4–5 February, followed by another round in Geneva on 17–18 February. None of the previous meetings produced agreement on core territorial or security issues.
Key differences remain over security guarantees for Ukraine, the future status of the Donbas region and proposals concerning possible international or multinational forces in a post-war arrangement. Kyiv has rejected territorial concessions, while Moscow is reported to seek stronger control over parts of eastern Ukraine.
The Geneva meeting was part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, though officials acknowledged that achieving a comprehensive settlement would be difficult given the deep divisions between the negotiating sides.
Ukrainian officials thanked Switzerland for hosting the talks and the U.S. negotiating team for its engagement. The talks followed U.S.-mediated trilateral discussions with Russia last week, which were described as intensive and businesslike but ended without an agreement.
Iran suggested it would be "unreasonable" to proceed with talks to forge a permanent peace d...
U.S. President Donald Trump vented his frustration with NATO during a private meeting with its secretary-genera...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday its military ships and aircraft will remain a...
Walt Disney is planning to cut up to 1,000 jobs in the coming weeks, with many of the reductions expected to af...
Israel pounded Lebanon with its heaviest strikes yet on Wednesday, killing hundreds of people and drawing a thr...
U.S. President Donald Trump vented his frustration with NATO during a private meeting with its secretary-general, Mark Rutte, on Wednesday as relations in the military alliance reached a crisis point over the Iran war.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday its military ships and aircraft will remain around Iran and threatened that the U.S. will start "shooting" again unless Tehran fully complies with the deal reached with Washington.
Israel pounded Lebanon with its heaviest strikes yet on Wednesday, killing hundreds of people and drawing a threat of retaliation from Iran, which suggested it would be "unreasonable" to proceed with talks to forge a permanent peace deal with the United States.
Israel carried out its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since the conflict with Hezbollah broke out last month, killing more than 250 people on Wednesday, as the Iran-aligned group resumed rocket attacks on northern Israel after a brief pause under the two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire.
China and Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Tuesday aimed at coordinating defensive efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving no agreed international framework for securing the vital route.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah said it had stopped firing on northern Israel and Israeli forces on Wednesday as part of a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East brokered between the United States and Iran. However, a Hezbollah lawmaker warned that the pause could collapse if Tel Aviv does not adhere to it.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Iran and the United States, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate two-week ceasefire covering all areas, but Israel says the deal excludes Lebanon. Tel Aviv says the U.S. is committed to achieving shared goals in upcoming negotiations.
Recent U.S. complaints about NATO allies and threats to quit the alliance are pushing European countries to seek alternative security arrangements, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Tuesday.
South Korea has welcomed a rare conciliatory response from North Korea, calling it a “meaningful step” towards easing military tensions on the Korean peninsula.
Greece will ban access to social media for children under 15 from 1 January 2027, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday, citing rising anxiety, sleep problems and the addictive design of online platforms.
Trade discussions between China and the U.S. are expected to remain virtual for now, with no major investment initiatives planned before a potential meeting between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, according to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
The Russian T-90M tank is worth an estimated $4.5 million and was designed to dominate the battlefield. Yet this steel giant has repeatedly been destroyed by something far smaller, faster and thousands of times cheaper: the drone.
North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles towards its east coast on Wednesday (8 April), South Korea’s military said, in a fresh show of force that underscored rising tensions despite brief signs of a possible thaw between the two sides.
The leader of Taiwan's largest opposition party used her first full day in mainland China to publicly pledge reconciliation, invoking the spirit of her party's founder, Sun Yat-sen, to call for unity whilst surprisingly praising the communist mainland’s developmental achievements.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment