Zelenskyy assesses Geneva talks and announces new prisoner exchange
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (facebook.com/zelenskyy.official)
The opportunities for a dignified end to the war still exist. An agreement on a new prisoner exchange could be reached in the coming days, said President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy after a briefing on the results of the negotiations in Geneva.
The President said he had received a detailed report from Ukraine’s negotiating team following the meetings in Switzerland.
"We believe that real opportunities to end the war with dignity still exist, and the world’s ability to pressure the aggressor could significantly help ensure that a dignified peace replaces the war," Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy also thanked the Ukrainian negotiators for their "patience in all conversations with the Russian side," which were not always "easy or reasonable".
"It is important that envoys of the US President are also doing everything possible to keep the negotiations constructive, and Ukraine fully supports them in this – our contribution is always focused solely on constructive engagement," he emphasized.
Results of the Geneva talks
The country’s leader said there had been constructive progress on the military track. According to him, the participants acknowledged that in the event of a ceasefire, the United States will be primarily responsible for monitoring it.
Zelenskyy also spoke about the outcomes of discussions on the humanitarian track within the political group.
"It is still too early to speak about positive results, but constructive elements were found. In the coming days, decisions will be made regarding the exchange, in what numbers, and when it could take place. An exchange of Ukrainian prisoners of war for Russian prisoners of war," he said.
The President stressed that on the issue of territories and Donbas, the negotiators in Geneva were unable to reach any agreement.
Priorities for the next negotiations
The President of Ukraine noted that there is an agreement to hold the next trilateral meeting within ten days. He added that it will most likely also take place in Geneva.
According to Zelenskyy, answers to the most difficult questions ahead of the next meeting have already been prepared. He also said that priorities for the negotiating team have been defined for the upcoming trilateral meeting.
"We continue working to ensure readiness for leaders to meet and resolve issues that cannot yet be settled at the team level. It is the leaders’ format that could prove decisive in many respects, and Ukraine is ready for such a format," the President said.
Negotiations in Geneva
On February 17–18, the third round of trilateral talks between the delegations of Ukraine, the United States, and Russia took place in Geneva, Switzerland, aimed at ending the war.
Ukraine and Russia are failing to reach a peace agreement because Kyiv’s and Moscow’s positions on territorial issues remain far apart. Russia wants to get the entire Donetsk region, where its forces are making very slow progress.
At the same time, Ukraine seeks an unconditional ceasefire, with any negotiations based on the current line of contact.
Zelenskyy stated the parties were already close to reaching a final stage, but Russia is attempting to delay the talks.
