Ukraine and Russia closer to defining ceasefire mechanism after Geneva talks, CNN reports

According to a source familiar with the negotiations, military officials achieved "incremental but significant progress" in determining how the ceasefire would function.

The source added that political talks remained "tense", while discussions between military representatives gave officials cautious optimism.

What was the task of the military negotiating groups

As CNN writes, the military negotiations took place under the leadership of Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and were headed by US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and General Alex Grynkewich, who is also commander of US European Command.

One of the main tasks of the military negotiations was to reach an agreement between both sides on key conditions that would later be used in political negotiations. Among them are the practical terms of the ceasefire and what will be considered its violation.

The interlocutor says that progress was achieved in this direction, although political figures will still have to give final approval.

The source added that another meeting is expected to be scheduled in the coming weeks.

Geneva talks

On February 17–18, another round of trilateral peace negotiations between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia took place in Geneva.

On the eve of the meeting, Ukrainian authorities officially announced that they planned to discuss how a monitoring mission would operate in the event of a ceasefire. It was also said that Kyiv would raise the issue of an energy truce.

After these negotiations, head of the Ukrainian delegation Kyrylo Budanov said that "the discussion was difficult, but important."

Later, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry announced that Kyiv and Moscow had already agreed on a new round of talks. This agreement was also confirmed by the head of the Russian negotiating group, Vladimir Medinsky.

Notably, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan that the fourth round of negotiations would again take place in Switzerland. In addition, he stated that he would like a meeting before the end of February.

The Ukrainian leader also wrote on social media that the sides would already have reached the final stage, but Russia is trying to delay the negotiations.