Ukraine, US, and Russia Hold Geneva Talks: Outcomes of the February 18 Meeting.

Three-Party Talks in Geneva

According to UATV: A new round of three-party negotiations involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia was held in Geneva on February 18, 2023. While the meeting continued discussions on critical issues, no concrete results were achieved at this stage. The talks follow a Ukraine–US–Russia format, with European representatives currently participating as observers. These talks are part of a series of diplomatic efforts to address the ongoing conflict.

Expert Commentary

Commenting on the talks, Igor Petrenko noted that Europeans intend to become actively involved in the process:

“Because the Europeans will participate, and most likely, even take the lion's share upon themselves, both in rebuilding Ukraine and in guaranteeing security for Ukraine.” - Igor Petrenko

He also emphasized the importance of continuing constructive work:

“The only thing that can be noted is the continuation of the constructive work of the military subgroup.” - Igor Petrenko

However, despite the activity in the negotiations, Petrenko stressed that progress on political issues remains limited. “We must understand that the question of a political nature, that is, broad political regulation, is the horse, and military technical issues are the cart,” he noted. Regarding territorial issues, the situation remains unchanged: “There is no evidence yet of a convergence of the parties' positions on the main issue—the territorial one—just as there are no points of contact.”

Thus, the Geneva talks continue, but significant advancement on resolving key issues is not yet visible. The parties are maintaining dialogue, but specific outcomes remain undefined. The continuation of these negotiations indicates a sustained interest from all participants in reaching a compromise. However, the lack of progress on political matters underscores the complexity of the situation and the need for further efforts to achieve stability in the region.