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Zelenskyy Outlines Next Steps for Peace After Insufficient Geneva Discussions
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the results of the three-party negotiations held in Geneva on February 17–18 were not enough. During his evening video address on Wednesday, the President noted that while technical discussions occurred, the broader diplomatic goals remain unfulfilled, according to NV on February 18.
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“Ukraine is interested in the result. As of today, we cannot say that the result is sufficient… Sensitive political issues, questions about possible compromises and the necessary meeting of leaders have not yet been worked out enough,” Zelenskyy said. However, he confirmed that military representatives held a serious and substantive dialogue regarding several key issues.
The President is now looking toward a rapid continuation of these efforts to maintain diplomatic pressure. “We are counting on the next meeting; it would be right to have it still in February,” Zelenskyy added.
He had previously noted that the discussions between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia were difficult, with the most tangible progress occurring strictly within the military sphere.
A significant outcome from the military working group is the resolution of a ceasefire monitoring mechanism. This oversight will be conducted with the direct involvement of the United States.
Rustem Umerov, the head of the Ukrainian delegation in Geneva, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, reported that the two days of meetings involved intensive and practical work across both political and military blocs.
Umerov explained that the delegations focused on defining security parameters and creating mechanisms to implement potential decisions. He stated that while some issues were clarified during the sessions, a significant portion of the agenda still requires further coordination.
The assessment of the talks remains mixed among international observers. Reports from Axios suggested the negotiations hit a dead end due to the Russian side’s position.
Conversely, Steve Witkoff, the US Special Envoy, claimed the meetings resulted in substantial progress. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi confirmed on February 18 that all delegations have agreed to a follow-up meeting to continue peace efforts.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that while the political dimension of the Geneva talks involved sensitive issues like the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and eastern territories, there was significant progress regarding military matters. He explained that the negotiations followed two parallel tracks, and all three sides were constructive in the military issues.
Zelenskyy highlighted that the military representatives reached a broad understanding on how to monitor a ceasefire, emphasizing that any monitoring mechanism would definitely include the United States. Despite the progress in the military sphere, he admitted that political positions still differed and the overall negotiations remained difficult.
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