U.S. and Russia Held Unofficial Talks on War in Ukraine, Reuters Reports

U.S. and Russian representatives have participated in unofficial discussions about the war against Ukraine in Switzerland in recent months, including as recently as last week, according to Reuters on February 21.

The participants, who have backgrounds in diplomacy and security, are not government officials, and it is unclear whether any attended on behalf of their respective governments, two of the sources said. The identities of those involved were not disclosed.

The discussions, described as a side channel, took place during the transition following U.S. President Donald Trump’s election victory on November 5. At least some of Trump’s advisers are aware of the meetings, one source with direct knowledge of the talks said.

Details about the discussions remain unclear, including whether Ukrainian representatives were present, when the meetings began, and what topics were covered.

However, the meetings underscore ongoing U.S.-Russian engagement on potential resolutions to the war, despite the near halt in official contact under former President Joe Biden.

One source described the Swiss discussions as “Track Two” diplomacy, unofficial engagements meant to improve communication and explore ideas rather than establish formal agreements. The White House National Security Council, the Ukrainian government, and Russia’s foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

Switzerland’s foreign ministry acknowledged the existence of such meetings, stating that the country regularly hosts Track Two discussions related to the Ukraine war. These meetings, it said, are organized by non-state actors and allow for exchanges that do not directly involve governments.

“These activities help to sustain diplomatic efforts relating to the conflict,” the ministry said in a statement.

Two sources confirmed that at least one such meeting took place in Geneva during last week’s Munich Security Conference, which brought together international political leaders and security officials in Germany.

Earlier, the U.S. and Ukraine began discussions on an updated minerals agreement following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s rejection of a proposal from former President Donald Trump, Axios reported on February 20.